United States v. Nissan Van 1987 Vin Jn8

45 F.3d 438 NOTICE: Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3 provides that dispositions other than opinions or orders designated for publication are not precedential and should not be cited except when relevant under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, or collateral estoppel. UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. NISSAN VAN 1987 VIN JN8HD16Y8HWO14378, Hawaii License HID 881 One (1), Defendant, and Big Island Motors, Inc., a Hawaii corporation, dba Hilo Mazda, Claimant-Appellant. No. 93-17033. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Submitted Dec. 16, 1994. * Decided Dec. 20, 1994. Before: SNEED, NORRIS, and HALL, Circuit Judges. 1 MEMORANDUM ** 2 Big Island Motors ("Big Island") timely appeals from a judgment of civil forfeiture against two of its vehicles, a 1987 Nissan van and a 1984 Chevrolet pickup truck. In essence, Big Island argues that (1) the government failed to prove probable cause that the vehicles were involved in a money laundering transaction and (2) the district court erred in rejecting Big Island's innocent owner defense. We affirm. I. 3 The Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") investigated several Hawaiian car dealerships for suspected violations of…