Pontiac, IL – A routine traffic stop in Livingston County Friday evening led to the seizure of more than $22,000 in suspected illegal cash after a sheriff’s K9 alerted to a rental vehicle in Pontiac.
According to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy conducted a traffic stop around 7 p.m. Friday near the intersection of West Reynolds Street and North Deerfield Road. During the stop, K9 Duke was deployed for a free-air sniff of the vehicle and gave a positive alert.
Deputies then searched the rental car and located $22,151 in U.S. currency inside a black North Face bookbag, authorities said. Investigators later determined there was probable cause to believe the money had been obtained illegally.
The driver, described by officials as a male and the sole occupant of the vehicle, is from Buford, Georgia. According to the sheriff’s office, the man was found to be on federal probation or supervised release for money laundering at the time of the stop.
Despite the discovery, the individual was not arrested and was released from the scene. The cash, however, was seized pending asset forfeiture proceedings, the sheriff’s office confirmed.
Assisting agencies at the scene included Livingston County Patrol, the Pontiac Police Department, and VCOM.
Authorities did not release the man’s name, and no additional charges have been announced as of Saturday. The investigation remains ongoing.
Residents with information related to the incident are encouraged to contact the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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