Mistake costs dishwasher $59,000 Options

[schwab]

MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- For 11 years, Pedro Zapeta, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala, lived his version of the American dream in Stuart, Florida: washing dishes and living frugally to bring money back to his home country.

Two years ago, Zapeta was ready to return to Guatemala, so he carried a duffel bag filled with $59,000 -- all the cash he had scrimped and saved over the years -- to the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

But when Zapeta tried to go through airport security, an officer spotted the money in the bag and called U.S. customs officials.

"They asked me how much money I had," Zapeta recalled, speaking to CNN in Spanish.

He told the customs officials $59,000. At that point, U.S. customs seized his money, setting off a two-year struggle for Zapeta to get it back.

Zapeta, who speaks no English, said he didn't know he was running afoul of U.S. law by failing to declare he was carrying more than $10,000 with him. Anyone entering or leaving the country with more than $10,000 has to fill out a one-page form declaring the money to U.S. customs.

Officials initially accused Zapeta of being a courier for the drug trade, but they dropped the allegation once he produced pay stubs from restaurants where he had worked. Zapeta earned $5.50 an hour at most of the places where he washed dishes. When he learned to do more, he got a 25-cent raise.

After customs officials seized the money, they turned Zapeta over to the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The INS released him but began deportation proceedings. For two years, Zapeta has had two attorneys working pro bono: one on his immigration case, the other trying to get his money back.

"They are treating me like a criminal when all I am is a working man," he said.

Zapeta's story became public last year on CNN and in The Palm Beach Post newspaper, prompting well-wishers to give him nearly $10,000 -- money that now sits in a trust.

Robert Gershman, one of Zapeta's attorneys, said federal prosecutors later offered his client a deal: He could take $10,000 of the original cash seized, plus $9,000 in donations as long as he didn't talk publicly and left the country immediately.

Zapeta said, "No." He wanted all his money. He'd earned it, he said.

Now, according to Gershman, the Internal Revenue Service wants access to the donated cash to cover taxes on the donations and on the money Zapeta made as a dishwasher. Zapeta admits he never paid taxes.

CNN contacted the U.S. Attorneys office in Miami, U.S. Customs and the IRS about Zapeta's case. They all declined to comment.

Marisol Zequeira, an immigration lawyer, said illegal immigrants such as Zapeta have few options when dealing with the U.S. government.

"When you are poor, uneducated and illegal, your avenues are cut," he said.

On Wednesday, Zapeta went to immigration court and got more bad news. The judge gave the dishwasher until the end of January to leave the country on his own. He's unlikely to see a penny of his money.

"I am desperate," Zapeta said. "I no longer feel good about this country."

Zapeta said his goal in coming to the United States was to make enough money to buy land in his mountain village and build a home for his mother and sisters. He sent no money back to Guatemala over the years, he said, and planned to bring it all home at once.

At Wednesday's hearing, Zapeta was given official status in the United States -- voluntary departure -- and a signed order from a judge. For the first time, he can work legally in the U.S.

By the end of January, Zapeta may be able to earn enough money to pay for a one-way ticket home so the U.S. government, which seized his $59,000, doesn't have to do so.

ok at first i felt bad for this guy....but then i started thinking about it and realized that he is illegal and he never did pay taxes so fuck him...complaining about hes not a criminal...yes you fucking are, you worked illegally, didnt pay taxes, and whatever else you did here and you are bitching?

[kcroxyoursox]

yeah but they offered him $10,000 + another $9,000 in donations to leave the country and not be the worse for wear... I'd guess that's a lot better deal than 11 years worth of tax evasion + fines for not declaring his cash + whatever other illegal immigration violations. how did the guy purchase a plane ticket and pass security? must have had a fake ID, there's some more fines.

Why does it make the government a Good Samaritan by allowing him to take the money donated to him by third parties? I'm sure they'd make him pay taxes on that anyway (since it's probably considered a large gift or something) so now matter how you look at it, he's not getting out of here with anything near that amount. I'd be pissed if I donated to a fund for a guy who got all his money taken by the government, and then found out the government took part of that too. I say send all the money to his family, and then punish him and him alone. Yes, he took a risk by coming here illegally and therefore agreed to any punishments rendered for being caught. But his family had no control over what he did and shouldn't be punished for it.

what they dont say is the money hes put into the american economy. hes had to pay some form of rent, clothing, food for the past 11 years. in addition to his work contributing to the business and that goes into the overall economy.

That's what I was trying to say. He has put in AT LEAST what he's now trying to take out. In the end he gets the short end of the stick and America still bitches that that's not enough.

I'm not touching the rest of what you said.

[jonathan83]

But his family had no control over what he did and shouldn't be punished for it.

how is his family being punished? it was his money, not theirs. if i make money and someone takes it away, my family has nothing to do with it.

He has put in AT LEAST what he's now trying to take out.

how do you figure that? it said he lived frugally, and i bet he hardly spent anything. he probably lived in some house with 10 other illegal immigrants and was taking advantage of rent too.