YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – A man who was pulled over in North Jackson for a traffic violation four years ago has lost his case to keep nearly $775,000 that troopers found in his car.
Alexandre Haussmann can say goodbye to the $774,830 that was seized on April 21, 2020, as he was traveling on Interstate 80 in Mahoning County on his way to New York.
During the traffic stop, troopers say Haussmann appeared nervous. They say his hands were shaking and he wouldn’t make eye contact. A K-9 was called in, and the dog indicated on Haussmann’s Chrysler 300 that he was driving. A search of the car uncovered a suitcase in the trunk, which contained backpacks with wrapped cash inside, according to court documents.
Troopers also noted that marijuana residue was found on the passenger floorboard of the car and the money bags had marijuana residue on them, too. They also said the cash was marked with various symbols including one that said “Drop A.”
Troopers said Haussmann told them he was transporting about $800,000 in cash but wouldn’t claim ownership of the money and denied that it belonged to anyone he knew. He also would not say how he obtained it.
Haussmann was placed in a cruiser and while he was alone in the backseat, he made the following statements which were recorded by the Patrol: (Source: Court record)
- Dude why?! I knew it. F***. Idiot Idiot Idiot! F** * these cops. Dude Dude Dude Dude! Why did this happen? F***ing luggage locks! I can’t believe this actually happened.
- Alex Alex, I think this is time to kill yourself. Why the f*** would you take a Chrysler 300? You are an idiot! You are a f***ing retard.
- I can’t believe this actually happened. F***. F***. I can’t live anymore. Max was right Max is always right.
- So what’s going to happen now is you are probably going to kill yourself. You are a f** ing idiot Alex. You are a f* ing idiot. You are a f up.
- How did this happen? This is like a bad dream. Oh my God! You guy need a f***ing s…. Why God Jesus? This is bulls***!
- I should of got a luggage lock. You are a failure. You f***. This sucks! This is so stupid this is so stupid!
- Alex how?! Why Jesus God you are such a f***ing idiot! You’re f***ing idiot! Every decision you ever make is wrong! You always make the wrong choices. There goes my relationship with my my ….. (goes into singing and humming).
- F***! Max I am sorry Max. I shouldn’t have driven. Why are you like this Alex? How and why, how and why, why and how and oh my God Alex! Alex oh my God! You f*** you f***! So this is really bad. Why are you so poor at decision-making?
- You are f***ing retarded. This is going to cause some permanent mental damage. Oh my God it’s all over now.
- You f***! You had five minutes five minutes you had five minutes
- You are the worst.
- How could this have possibly happen. I can’t believe this. I can’t believe this. I can’t believe this. This is it. This is this is I am worse than t…. Oh my God Alex! Oh my God. The are doing this to sweat me. But if you… I don’t know how you are going to live with yourself.
- You are an idiot! A Chrysler 300 with Indiana plates. Wow Wow. Should have taken … F***! Ah man Ah man Ah man Ah man you are F***ed, Its over! Its over you probably should just commit Kermit suicide. Kermit it. Kermit suicide Alex. Dude! Dude!
- Wow! This is great. I can’t believe this! Absolute bull s***! Wow. You are so stupid! So stupid! Stupid!
- You are really dumb and you are going to suffer for this probably for the rest of your life and uh and f*** Max and Justin! Just f*** them!
- F***ing angry. Being recorded. I don’t like this.
- You f***ed up kid. You f***ed up as bad as f*** up f***s and now you are f***ed. And why would you ever do this? Oh my God! No luggage locks!
- Why Alex? Need to ask yourself a question here. The question you need to ask yourself is – How could you have f***ed up like this? You are so godd*** dense. You are so godd*** stupid. You are honestly just just a mistake. Your birth was an accident. Not really but how like … I can’t believe this [sic].
Following Haussmann’s arrest, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio filed a motion in September 2020 for forfeiture of the cash, claiming that the money was part of an illegal drug trafficking enterprise. Haussmann tried to fight it by filing a motion to suppress the evidence, saying his Fourth Amendment rights were violated and that the search of his car was illegal, but that was denied.
In the end, the U.S. filed a motion for summary judgment to keep the money and it was granted on May 31, 2024.
Money seized in drug cases is used for policies, programs and facilities that deter crime or support victims, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
