United States v. $30,440 in U.S. Currency, and Jeremiah Hoskins, Claimant-Appellant

The United States sought the forfeiture of $30,440 in United States currency. It was opposed by claimant Jeremiah Hoskins. After trial the district court gave judgment for the United States.

Hoskins appeals. We affirm the judgment of the district court.

FACTS

On May 8, 1990 Hoskins was hit in the head and shot at his own home. He called the paramedics and the Inglewood police were also notified. Without a search warrant the police searched the house and found what they believed to be cocaine in a package lying on top of the refrigerator. The package was marked “Ruby” and wrapped in a way characteristic in packaging kilos of cocaine. The top had been split open. There was a knife on the kitchen floor that the police believed had been used to open the package. There was a pool of blood near the knife. In the bedroom of the house the police found $7,500 in a dresser drawer and $22,940 on a shelf in the closet.

The United States moved to forfeit the cash alleging that there were reasonable grounds to believe that the cash had been used to buy drugs or would be used to buy drugs.

PROCEEDINGS

At the first hearing of the case, on September 23,1991, the district court inquired of…