Goverment takes man money

Levi Stoltzfoos distrusted the government, so he hoarded hundreds of thousands of dollars for years before finally reopening bank accounts in 2006, his attorney argued Wednesday.
Prosecutors allege Stoltzfoos deposited his nest egg — in 10 different banks and in cash sums just under $10,000 — to avoid investigation by state and federal agents.
Now the 39-year-old Leola man's fate is in the hands of 12 jurors.
Testimony in Stoltzfoos' trial ended Wednesday with closing arguments from defense attorney Jeff Conrad and state Deputy Attorney General Stevan Portman.
Stoltzfoos is charged with 58 felony counts of dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities for allegedly "structuring" the deposits — which totaled $541,100. He faces a maximum prison sentence that could span the rest of his life.
Stoltzfoos deposited the cash in sums just under $10,000 so bank tellers wouldn't fill out a special form, drawing attention from investigators, prosecutors say.
The Bank Secrecy Act requires bank officials to report all cash deposits or withdrawals above $10,000 on a currency transaction report.
Conrad argued that his client made similar deposits in 1999 and 2001 but was never charged with a crime.

Stoltzfoos later withdrew those deposits because he feared he'd lose them because of possible computer problems brought on when calendars turned over for the year 2000, or Y2K, and after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, respectively, Conrad told the jury.
"He's a man that hoards his money because he was afraid the government would take it — and they did," Conrad said. "They took every single penny."
Agents from the Attorney General's Office seized all the funds Stoltzfoos had deposited over a six-week period early in 2006 before he was charged later that year.
"Levi Stoltzfoos is a man who grew up in a community, in a faith, that is distrusting of the government," his attorney argued.
Raised Amish, Stoltzfoos left the church 10 years ago but lives with his parents, who are practicing New Order Amish.
Agents raided their Leola home as part of the investigation.
"Money gone, freedom at issue today," Conrad told the jurors.
Conrad conceded that his client made the transactions, but not with a "criminal mind."
"Did he do it? Yep. Over and over and over again," Conrad said.
The lawyer then described how Y2K caused widespread fear that computer systems would crash, causing worldwide chaos. http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/221053