A judge ruled in favor of a Denton ministry who sued the federal government over the illegal seizure of "million-dollar bill" gospel tracts.
In 2006, the U.S. Secret Service confiscated 83 packs of the gospel tracts, which resemble million-dollar bills. The ministry's tracts feature a "million-dollar question" and asks readers, "Will you go to heaven?" The tracts also include a brief test and Bible excerpts.
Darrel Rundus, president of the Great News Network ministry, said the Secret Service made the seizure illegally without a search warrant and threatened to arrest a GNN member if he did not turn over the tracts.
U.S. District Court Judge Jorge Solis ruled the Secret Service agents violated the Fourth Amendment by seizing the tracts without a warrant and ordered the agents to return the gospel tracts.
In his court opinion, Solis also said the "million-dollar bills" bear "no real resemblance of genuine U.S. currency" and are not counterfeit money.
"The United States Treasury has never made currency in the denomination of $1,000,000," court documents state.
After four years of legal action, Rundus said he was pleased with the ruling.
"We thank God for vindicating The Great News Network and for a good and just ruling by Judge Solis," Rundus said in a written statement. "This case and the ruling clearly illustrate how the U.S. Constitution and the protections it provides citizens from illegal activity by the government are alive and well today."
In 2006, the U.S. Secret Service confiscated 83 packs of the gospel tracts, which resemble million-dollar bills. The ministry's tracts feature a "million-dollar question" and asks readers, "Will you go to heaven?" The tracts also include a brief test and Bible excerpts.
Darrel Rundus, president of the Great News Network ministry, said the Secret Service made the seizure illegally without a search warrant and threatened to arrest a GNN member if he did not turn over the tracts.
U.S. District Court Judge Jorge Solis ruled the Secret Service agents violated the Fourth Amendment by seizing the tracts without a warrant and ordered the agents to return the gospel tracts.
In his court opinion, Solis also said the "million-dollar bills" bear "no real resemblance of genuine U.S. currency" and are not counterfeit money.
"The United States Treasury has never made currency in the denomination of $1,000,000," court documents state.
After four years of legal action, Rundus said he was pleased with the ruling.
"We thank God for vindicating The Great News Network and for a good and just ruling by Judge Solis," Rundus said in a written statement. "This case and the ruling clearly illustrate how the U.S. Constitution and the protections it provides citizens from illegal activity by the government are alive and well today."
