California Armored Car Company Settles with Sheriff’s Dept Over Seized Cannabis Cash

A California armored car company that transports cash for cannabis businesses has settled its lawsuit against the San Bernardino County sheriff which claimed the department illegally seized more than $1 million in cash, according to an Associated Press and KDKA report. Under the terms of the settlement, Empyreal Logistics will be able to resume its services but there is no financial compensation for the company.

The sheriffs had stopped two of the company’s transports last November and December but in a statement following the settlement, the department said Empyreal had acted in good faith.

“Both sides also acknowledge that Empyreal is part of the solution to help with financial transparency and that San Bernardino Deputies are not highway robbers as previously reported in the media.” – San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department in a statement.

The company has had the seized cash returned in a previous agreement with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration which participated in the law enforcement actions. The sheriff’s department would have been able to keep 80% of the seized cash, while the federal agencies would have kept the rest.

Empyreal CEO Deirdra O’Gorman said, following the settlement, she is “confident” the California-based company “can continue serving state-legal businesses without future disruptions.”

San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus had previously backed the deputies as “professional” and was “confident” the agency would “prevail” in the case.

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