United States v. $80,010.00 in U.S. Currency

MEMORANDUM

James Wilson, Jr. appeals from the district court’s judgment ordering the forfeiture of $80,010 in United States currency to the government. Narcotics officers seized the currency from Wilson’s luggage at the Los Angeles International Airport. Wilson argues that the district court erred in concluding that: (1) the government had probable cause to institute civil forfeiture proceedings; and (2) the government proved by a preponderance of the evidence at trial that the currency was the proceeds of illegal drug transactions. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 , and we affirm.

Because the second requirement is more demanding, we address the second argument first. The record shows that the district court did not err by concluding that the government established, by a preponderance of the evidence, a substantial connection between the seized currency and illegal drug activity. See 18 U.S.C. § 983 (c); 21 U.S.C. § 881 (a)(6). Though the issue is close, we find that the evidence was sufficient to satisfy the government’s burden of proof. See United States v. $22,474.00 in U.S. Currency, 246 F.3d 1212, 1217 (9th Cir.2001) (stating that the appellant’s “inconsistent…