United States v. $110,186.35 in Funds

I. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

20 On December 4, 2018, Plaintiff United States of America initiated this in rem 21 forfeiture action. (Compl., ECF No. 1.) The government subsequently amended its 22 complaint on January 10, 2019. (Verified First Am. Compl. (“FAC”), ECF No. 10.) 23 Through this action, the government seeks forfeiture of $110,186.35 in funds seized by 24 members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Parcel and Cargo Narcotics Enforcement 25 Team in November and December 2017. (FAC ¶¶ 8, 14–22.) The government alleges 26 that the “defendant funds represent or are traceable to proceeds of illegal narcotic 27 trafficking or were intended to be used in one or more exchanges for a controlled 28 1 substance or listed chemical, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841 et seq.” (FAC ¶ 22.) The 2 government alleges that, as such, the defendant funds are subject to forfeiture pursuant 3 to 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(6). (FAC ¶ 22.) There are no known potential claimants to the defendant funds as a result of a 5 pre-judicial action settlement agreement. (FAC ¶ 7.) The government published Notice 6 of Civil Forfeiture for thirty days pursuant to the Supplemental Rules for…