We’re Entrepreneurs, Not Criminals. Why Did the Government Steal Our Money?

Did you know our own government can steal property from you, even if you’re innocent? We sure didn’t — until law enforcement in California seized thousands of dollars from us, and we hadn’t done anything wrong. It was nothing short of terrifying — and it’s a lesson for every law-abiding citizen in America.

We’re Vera and Apollonia Ward, two sisters who live on opposite sides of the country (Vera in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and Apollonia in Redondo Beach, California). Together we run a thriving dog-breeding business.

Late last year, we hired someone to find and purchase two new dogs, and sent them $17,500 in cash via FedEx. But our money never made it. Instead, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office seized the funds at a FedEx facility in Stockton, California.

Read the rest of the op-ed at The Orange County Register.

Vera and Apollonia Ward are sisters who operate a dog-breeding business. Vera lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia, while Apollonia resides in Redondo Beach, California.