Gypsies

I'm doing research and I am trying to learn as much about non-conformity as possible, so I'm reading old sociology books from school right now. I found this passage about a case that was the IRS vs. Gypsies in Spokane, Washington. I thought that might be the same area as Lisa and Kerry. The following is a direct quote from the seventh edition (wealthy guy) "Extraordinary Groups" by William Worth.

"In 1986 police raided [two homes in Spokane, Washington, during a search for stolen goods] and seized $500,000 in jewelry and $1.6 million in cash. Some of the money-sewn into sacred quilts-was "sad money" the family says was to help deceased relatives in the next life.... Gypsies believe in an active hereafter, one in which the dead smoke and drink. On Memorial Day and All Saints' Day, the family gathers at Holy Cross cemetery in Spokane for graveside services. The money and property were later seized by the IRS, on the basis that no taxes had ever been paid on the cash or goods."

"The Gypsies sued in U.S. District Court, contending that the seizure was illegal. In the tax court they challenged the way the IRS calculated the tax. The Gypsies said the money was a community fund belonging to the entire settlement, the IRS agreed to return all but $350,000. "

I thought you may find this interesting and I could maybe get some feedback that might be useful when writing. I'm not writing about Gypsies, but just doing some broad research as I said earlier. The book cites a USA Today article written November 6, 1991 and "IRS will return Most of the Gypsies' Cache," Insight, November 9, 1987. So I'm guessing this went down in 87 and the court case was 91. Maybe Kerry was working when this was going on and has some sort of stories to share from the people who work in the courts there? Regardless, I hope you found it as interesting as I did, that they managed to keep like $1.3 million by working our system.