Nobody likes taxes. Unfortunately, we have no choice. With the exception of those who are extremely shady and brilliantly elusive, we will all have to face being taxed at some point in our lives. That includes any potential fees that are incurred when going through customs. Just before Christmas, former Tampa Bay Lightning coach Rick Tocchet found that out the hard way when leaving the Bahamas. Check out this entertaining disappointing excerpt from the Nassau Guardian:
Richard Tocchet, 47, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Philadelphia Flyers, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Los Angeles Kings, the Boston Bruins, the Washington Capitals, and the Phoenix Coyotes, was arrested at the Lynden Pindling International Airport on December 23 after he told a U.S. Customs border officer that he was not traveling with more than $10,000.
Tocchet was searched and found to have $18,752. He pleaded guilty to charges of making a false declaration when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Roger Gomez.
Tocchet was lucky to get off with only a warning, but he lost every penny of the $18,752. I’m sure the former NHL player and coach is doing decent financially, but I can imagine how angry I’d be if I had $18,000 taken from me. As for why he was carrying that much cash, we have to assume he spent a little time in the Bahamian casinos. Either he started with a boat load of cash or he walked away a winner. In any event, he returned to America a loser.
Fist pound to Puck Daddy for passing the story along.
