Youre Likely Committing a Crime Right NowBy Mark Nestmann, The Nestmann Group Do you have a bank account? If you deposit or withdraw more than $10,000 in cash over multiple transactions, you could be imprisoned for up to five years. Plus, they could take every penny in the account, under the theory it facilitated your crime. Do you have foreign investments? Neglect to tell Uncle Sam about them, and the penalties will be brutal. Forget to file just one form? You could face a $10,000 penalty per account per year. Theres no requirement that you know any of these crimes exist for you to be found guilty of violating them. After all, Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Given this, you might think Uncle Sam would make it easy to understand exactly whats legal and whats not. Think again. In 1790, the first set of federal criminal laws contained a grand total of 20 crimes. Since then, the number of federal crimes listed has bloated beyond recognition. No one knows how many federal crimes exist, although a 1998 study from the American Bar Association concluded the total was likely much higher than 3,000. Thats just the tip of the iceberg. Federal agencies have the power to make laws called Administrative Laws out of thin air. Violate one of these, you will end up in a cell. Indeed, the number of federal regulations carrying criminal penalties may be as high as 300,000. And dont forget about state and local laws. In Arizona, you face 25 years imprisonment for cutting down a cactus. In Mississippi, it is illegal for a male to be sexually aroused in a public place. In Pennsylvania, a woman was arrested for swearing at a clogged toilet. Given these facts, you could be forgiven for thinking that Congress might put the brakes on penning new federal criminal law. Unfortunately, thats not happening. Indeed, the pace of federal criminalization is accelerating. A 2008 study concluded that since the start of 2000, Congress created at least 452 new crimes. Thats more than one a week. Since then, there has been no indication this trend will slow down, in fact the opposite is the case. For instance, last year, I learned US persons with certain international investments are now required to report them to the Department of Commerces Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Until 2014, you needed to file this form only if the BEA invited you to do so. But in November 2014, the BEA issued final regulations making it mandatory to file this form and imposing civil and criminal penalties if you dont. When was the last time you received an official notification from the BEA inviting you to file this form? Ive never received one I only learned about this requirement when my accountant warned me about it. Anyone can inadvertently run afoul of Americas far-reaching network of criminal laws. Depositing or withdrawing lawfully-earned funds from your own bank account is hardly what most people would consider a criminal offense. Neither is walking a dog with a six-and-a-half-foot leash. Fortunately, America is nearly unique in criminalizing so many offenses. The world prison population rate, based on United Nations estimates, is 144 per 100,000. By comparison, its 698 per 100,000 in the US nearly five times as high. A statistic like this must make us all ask, why? And beyond that, why do we stick around? A second passport, or even expatriation will provide some relief from the American cancer of criminalization. If you have any interest in setting up a second home overseas, dont wait until some inadvertent slipup results in an arrest and possible felony conviction. Once you have a criminal record, youll find it much more difficult to acquire legal residence anywhere else. There couldnt be a better time than now to begin, while the coast is clear. Want a proven, safe and simple way to protect your assets? For nearly three decades, Mark Nestmann has successfully helped clients do just that. Thats where Take Back Your Rights come in. It introduces you to some common sense ways to keep yourself safe in a dangerous, unstable world. And selfnewsPost.com has arranged for you to get the course for FREE (for a limited time). Image Credit The State is the enemy of mankind. Move overseas? Protect our investments? We are obviously not the target audience. How did this article get in here? The for-profit prisons actively lobbied for more criminal laws to generate more customers for their business. The corruption is unprecedented. The recent Federal move to eliminate for-profit prisons was a totally unexpected act of sanity. Im sure theres something behind it. THEY dont do anything sane. Seems the land of the free is a big jail. just change your last name to clinton and your cleared of all charges Aint that the sick truth? And not just Clinton, if you have money, are a member of law enforcement in any capacity, or work for just about any, even small govt, local on up to federal, or even are related or have a friend in the right position who will speak up for you, chances are, your mistake can easily overlooked. But, if you dont have any of the above, well, you could end up financially ruined and even in prison for the the rest of your now, very miserable life. What charges? Well,..all I can say is if they want this land, control and power over a people who wish to live free- then heck! They can have it!!! If no one wants to fight the freedom eating monster; yes, Im talking about another civil war then maybe we, like our ancestors, should look to other lands, islands, etcand find another America. We talk about how bad it is here, but just knowing how bad it is, DOES NOT CHANGE it. And dont give me that voting for the right person sh*t! Actions speak louder than words. Ya know, along with posting the problem, it would be nice for people to post an answer; or at least doable options. most people just dont want to draw any attention, for obvious reasons. what is the penalty if you let your dog loose? Death to traitors. When folks every where stop filling income tax returns there will be a true change. The only way for real change ! 