The city's Department of Investigation began its investigation into NYC Sheriff Anthony Miranda after the Department of Finance received a report about "unvouchered cash" during Operation Padlock raids.

Operation Padlock to Protest has shut down 1,100 illegal cannabis shops and obtained $78 million worth of product since its start in May.

Businesses claim the sheriff's office has not returned all the cash it confiscated during these raids, and others say they have been shut down for carrying their personal cannabis in the store.

Attorney Lance Lazzaro represents over 100 of those businesses and told News 12 Operation Padlock to Protect should be done away with entirely.

“Many of them are saying ‘here it is, I’ve been around, we’re not selling cannabis and here it is, not only are they shutting the store down but they’re stealing from them,'" Lazzaro said. "They’re outraged. And they should be outraged. They have every right to be outraged.”

A City Hall spokesperson told News 12 Sheriff Miranda found some of the unvouchered cash in safe boxes, then reported it to his supervisors.

News 12 reached out to the sheriff's office on Friday morning but have not heard back.