Summary
granting government's motion for default judgment where admitted factual allegations in the complaint showed that a drug canine alerted on a vehicle and court determined that money located in a plastic grocery bag in the vehicle was subject to forfeiture under 21 U.S.C. § 881
Summary of this case from United States v. $14,660 in U.S. CurrencyOpinion
1:11cv76
05-08-2012
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. $23,000 IN UNITED STATES CURRENCY, Defendant.
ORDER
Pending before the Court is the Government's Motion for Default Judgment [# 18]. This is an in rem civil forfeiture action brought by the Government pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 881. The defendant property is $23,000 in United States Currency. The Government now moves the Court to enter default judgment pursuant to Rule 55(b)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and enter a final order of forfeiture pursuant to Rule 58. The Court GRANTS the Government's motion [# 18].
I. Background
The Clerk issued a warrant for the arrest of the defendant property on April 13, 2011, pursuant to Supplemental Rule G(3)(b)(I) of the Supplemental Rules for Admiralty or Maritime Claims and Asset Forfeiture Actions ("Supplemental Rules"). (Warrant for Arrest, Apr. 13, 2011.) The warrant was returned executed on April 20, 2011. (Process Receipt and Return, Apr. 20, 2011.) Subsequently, the Government published the notice of this civil forfeiture action on www.forfeiture.gov for at least thirty consecutive days beginning on April 14, 2011, in accordance with Rule G(4)(a)(iv)(c) of the Supplemental Rules. (Decl. of Publication, Jun. 16, 2011.)
Claimant Timmy Lee Battle, Jr. filed a claim against the property on May 11, 2011. He then filed an Answer to the Complaint. The parties then stipulated to having this case heard by a United States Magistrate Judge. Thereafter, Claimant Battle withdrew his claim against the defendant property and relinquished any and all claims to the property. No other person or entity has filed a claim against the defendant property or answered the Complaint. Accordingly, the Clerk entered default on January 18, 2012. The Government now moves for the entry of default judgment in this case.
II. Analysis
The admitted factual allegations contained in the Complaint establish that the defendant property is subject to forfeiture. See Ryan v. Homecomings Fin. Network, 253 F.3d 778, 780 (4th Cir. 2001) (holding that a defaulting defendant is deemed to have admitted all of the well-plead factual allegations in the complaint). On November 25, 2010, an officer pulled over a pickup truck being driving by Claimant Battle. Subsequently, another officer arrived on the scene with a dog trained and certified to detect the odor of narcotics and drugs. The dog alerted outside of the pickup truck. The officers then searched the truck, locating a plastic grocery bag containing a total of $23,000 in United States currency. The currency was in five separate bundles, each secured with a rubber band. The Court finds that the allegations in the Complaint are sufficient to establish probable cause for the belief that the currency at issue is proceeds traceable to transactions and exchanges for controlled substances. See 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(6); Boas v. Smith, 786 F.2d 605, 609 (4th Cir. 1986); United States v. $95,945.18, 913 F.2d 1106, 1110 (4th Cir. 1990); United States v. $148,215.00, 768 F. Supp. 525, 527 (W.D.N.C. 1991) (Potter, J.). Accordingly, the Court GRANTS the Government's motion [# 18].
III. Conclusion
The Court GRANTS the Government's Motion for Default Judgment [# 18]. The Court DIRECTS the Clerk to ENTER a Default Judgment against the defendant currency. Finally, the Court ORDERS that the defendant currency be FORFEITED to the United States of America.
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Dennis L. Howell
United States Magistrate Judge