United States v. Sum of 5,336.07 U.S. Currency

• Decision Date: 02 May 2012
• Docket Number: No. 08–CV–6287L.,08–CV–6287L.
• Citation: 858 F.Supp.2d 246
• Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff, v. The SUM OF $185,336.07 UNITED STATES CURRENCY SEIZED FROM CITIZEN'S BANK ACCOUNT L7N–01967, Defendant.
• Court: U.S. District Court — Western District of New York

858 F.Supp.2d 246

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff,

v.The SUM OF $185,336.07 UNITED STATES CURRENCY SEIZED FROM CITIZEN'S BANK ACCOUNT L7N–01967, Defendant.

No. 08–CV–6287L.

United States District Court,

W.D. New York.

May 2, 2012.

Grace M. Carducci, U.S. Attorney's Office, Rochester, NY, for Plaintiff.

Donald M. Thompson, Rochester, NY, for Defendant.

DECISION AND ORDER

DAVID G. LARIMER, District Judge.

INTRODUCTION

The United States (“Government”) commenced this in rem forfeiture action, seeking the sum of $185,336.07 United States currency pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(6). The subject currency was seized by law enforcement officers from Dominic Pellegrino (“claimant”) on June 20, 2007 on the grounds that it had been furnished, or was intended to be furnished, in connection with the illegal exchange of controlled substances.

On June 30, 2008, the Government commenced this civil forfeiture action. On October 23, 2009, claimant filed a verified claim, requesting that the subject currency be returned to him because it was the product of lawful activity.

The Government now moves for summary judgment in its favor (Dkt. # 19). For the following reasons, that motion is granted.

DISCUSSION

Rule 56(c) provides that a moving party is entitled to summary judgment “if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 249, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). When considering a motion for summary judgment, the Court must draw inferences from underlying facts “in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion.” Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587–88, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986), quoting United States v. Diebold, Inc., 369 U.S. 654, 655, 82 S.Ct. 993, 8 L.Ed.2d 176 (1962). To defeat a properly-supported summary judgment motion, the non-movant must offer evidence in admissible form, setting forth specific facts that show that there is a genuine issue of material fact to be tried. See Rule v. Brine, Inc., 85 F.3d 1002, 1011 (2d Cir.1996). Statements submitted in opposition to summary judgment must be based on personal knowledge, “set forth such facts as would be admissible in evidence,” and show that the declarant is “competent to testify to the matters stated therein.” Patterson v. County of Oneida, 375 F.3d 206, 219 (2d Cir.2004). As such, “hearsay assertions that would not be admissible at trial [are] insufficient to create a genuine issue for trial.” Id., 375 F.3d 206 at 219,citing Sarno v. Douglas Elliman–Gibbons & Ives, Inc., 183 F.3d 155, 160 (2d Cir.1999).

The Controlled Substances Act provides for the civil forfeiture of “[a]ll moneys ... furnished or intended to be furnished by any person in exchange for a controlled substance[,] all proceeds traceable to such an exchange, and all moneys ... used or intended to be used to facilitate any violation of this subchapter.” 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(6). In proving entitlement to civil forfeiture, the Government must demonstrate, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the defendant assets are forfeitable. See Fischl v. Armitage, 128 F.3d 50, 55 (2d Cir.1997). That is, “the Government must show that it has reasonable grounds to believe that [the] property is subject to forfeiture. These grounds must rise above the level of mere suspicion but need not amount to what has been termed ‘prima facie proof.’ ” United States v. $8,880 in United States Currency, 945 F.Supp. 521, 523–524 (W.D.N.Y.1996) (internalquotations omitted). The Government need not link the [subject] property to a particular transaction or show a substantial connection between the drug activities and the property in question, “but only a nexus between them.” Id., quoting United States v. Daccarett, 6 F.3d 37, 55 (2d Cir.1993). Such a nexus may be established through the use of circumstantial evidence. See Daccarett, 6 F.3d at 56.

Once the Government meets its burden of proof to establish probable cause, “the ultimate burden of proving that the factual predicates for forfeiture have not been met” shifts to the claimant. United States v. One Parcel of Property Located at 15 Black Ledge Drive, 897 F.2d 97, 101 (2d Cir.1990) (emphasis added).

I find that the Government has demonstrated probable cause for forfeiture here. It is undisputed that on and around April 27, 2007, while investigating a claim from a confidential informant that he had engaged in hundreds of prior illegal narcotics buys from the claimant, undercover officers purchased prescription narcotics from the claimant at his residence. On May 3, 2007, law enforcement executed a valid search warrant at the property, and confiscated nearly 5,000 pills representing approximately fourteen different drugs, .31 grams of crack cocaine, two crack pipes, and records relating to claimant's banking activities. After the search, claimant was arrested and charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree pursuant to N.Y. Penal Code § 220.16(1). On July 11, 2008, claimant pled guilty in state court to one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree (N.Y. Penal Code § 220.03). By that plea, the claimant admitted to possessing illegal narcotics at his residence in May 2007.

After reviewing the financial documents seized from claimant during the May 3, 2007 search, investigators determined that the claimant had made a series of substantial bank deposits over a three-year period, totaling $169,000.00. Although claimant had failed to file tax returns from 2001 to 2006, he had indicated on a new bank account form application that he was unemployed, collecting Social Security disability benefits, and receiving an annual gross income of only $12,000.00, with liquid assets of $150,000. After completing a full analysis of claimant's banking transactions and his statement concerning his income, investigators determined that the claimant was receiving unexplained income in the average amount of $52,260.00 annually. The mass volume of controlled substances seized from claimant's home, the testimony of a confidential informant that he had engaged in over 700 purchases of controlled substances from claimant over the previous four years, the undercover narcotics buy, and the absence of any apparent legitimate source of income, led investigators to conclude that the source of claimant's unreported and unexplained excess income was the sale of illegal narcotics.

As a general rule, evidence that a claimant lacks a “legitimate, legal source of income,” combined with evidence of engagement in drug trafficking, is sufficient to meet the Government's burden of proof and support forfeiture. See e.g., $8,880 in U.S. Currency, 945 F.Supp. at 525. Furthermore, the non-filing of tax returns has been held “to negate the existence of a legitimate source of income.” United States v. Hinton, 543 F.2d 1002, 1013 (2d Cir.1976). See also United States v. Giles, 2000 U.S.App. LEXIS 6894 at *5–*6 (2d Cir.2000) (finder of fact may properly consider failure to file tax return in determining whether income was legitimately derived).; United States v. St. Prix, 672 F.2d 1077, 1084 (2d Cir.1982) (same). Here, the undisputed facts surrounding the law enforcement investigation into drug trafficking by claimant, claimant's guilty plea to drug trafficking, the lack of evidence pointing to a legitimate source for the subject funds, and claimant's failure to file tax returns showing a legitimately-derived source of income, together establish that the subject funds are traceable to drug trafficking.

In attempting to demonstrate that grounds for forfeiture do not exist, the claimant contends that the seized funds were legitimately derived, and constituted a combination of payments from a personal injury claim, insurance payments, and a retirement payout, all gradually deposited over a three-year period. In support of this contention, claimant has submitted a photocopy of an alleged litigation settlement “closing...