What do you think guys?
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andy-todd-1 — 16 years ago(October 26, 2009 12:17 PM)
Don't know how many watched "The Shield" series when the cops stole the mob's money, intending to keep it, only to find that a portion had been marked. This, more than anything else, seem to be the beginning of their downfall.
Assuming a comment made in American Gangster (more than once, I think), that the money was unmarked and that if turned in, it would just go to the crooked cops (majority if NYC DEA) who wre also allegedly selling the French Connection dope back to the drug dealers, it would seem you could do no worse than keep it.
But Crowe's character "did the right thing" as he did in Cinderella Man when he repaid the welfare money he'd received.
In these days of out of control government (and personal) spending, and leaders both too willing to spend more than we have to constituents and private business, whether they need it or not, and unwilling to do the right thing. I doubt many recipients would do the right thing by saying "we don't need that much" or pay back when possible, like Crowe's Cinderella Man.
No, it appears most of us (leaders and common man alike) would take it if we get a chance. -
paul-2219 — 15 years ago(April 18, 2010 10:15 AM)
The problem is that a lot of people ARE stupid with money like that and they DO get caught. Sure, if you sit on it and don't spend a dime for years and launder it slowly through small deposits and offshore accounts and casinos you could theoretically clean any marked currency. But if you are a vice cop involved in a case of a missing million dollars, both Internal Revenue and the mobsters who lost the money will be paying close attention to any purchases you makes or vacations you take that don't fit with your pay rate.
Yeah, you could get away with it. But if you really wanted to spend it you would effectively have to leave the country and your friends and family and job and life for a million dollars of undocumented money that would have to last you the rest of your life.
That said, and knowing where the money came from, and where it would likely end up were I to turn it in, I think I might decide to keep it. Store it in a safe deposit box for a couple years and discretely look into whether it was marked, launder it slowly and just use it for minor luxury items that wouldn't get noticed. Give a lot to charity and keep it for a retirement fund when nobody will notice the expenditures.
People of Earth! I am Kronos, King of the Monkey People! -
theusualsuspect957 — 15 years ago(April 18, 2010 02:32 PM)
I would not keep it.
I think at the time it may sound glamorous, but as the above poster mentioned, to really get away with taking the money, you would have to go through alot. The money probably could not even be used for a long time. It is not like you coudl find it, then go around buying things right away.
Also, think about who it could belong to. Who? Think about the things some people do for $100 bucks let alone a million. Even if noone was after you, paranoia may come.
I think the character actully did the smart thing.
Taking the money woudl solve alot of problems, but open up a hell of alot more.
Now, where was I? -
mommygirlgc — 16 years ago(November 03, 2009 10:27 AM)
No I wouldn't return it because it was the right thing to do, but I would return it in fear of getting my a$$ blown away by whomever it belonged to!
I know what you mean. I hate it when anyone even looks at my igneous rocks -
Ben-EL — 16 years ago(February 01, 2010 02:30 AM)
I would hand it in because it's the right thing to do. I pride myself on being an honest person and keeping money that is not yours is just about the most dishonest thing you could ever do.
There are also several major reasons you would not want to keep money of that size.- Whoever it belongs to will want it back and you will not be safe.
- Even if they find you and you give it back, you're probably dead.
- If you deposit more than 5 grand in cash in a bank, the police will come knocking.
- If the police do come knocking, you're doing time. Who would ever believe the 'I just found it' card?
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crazymaggalo — 15 years ago(April 20, 2010 10:58 AM)
I'd make sure the money was clean first. Not clean as in unmarked, but clean as in, didn't belong to any gangs, drug cartels etc. Don't want anybody gunning after my ass. Not sure how I would be able to figure that out the easy way though.
But if there was an easy was to make sure it was totally clean, and it was, HELL NO I wouldn't turn it in.
But i'd probably just leave it though, since there's really no way of being entirely sure, and turning the money in to the cops could still make you a target to whoever it belonged to. -
herbsuperb — 15 years ago(April 20, 2010 01:17 PM)
I'd turn it in to the proper authorities. I feel bad when I pick up a quarter off the street. Feeling as if I should find out who's it is. Not necessarily because the quarter is his, but simply because it is not mine. I tend to think if I didn't earn it I shouldn't have it. $1,000,000 would scare the hell out of me.
