USA v. $284,950.00 in U.S. Currency
Filing
27
ORDER denying 13 the United States's motion to strike Thompson's verified claim and answer; denying as moot 19 the United States's motion for leave to file a reply in support of its motion to strike and 21 Thompson's motion to strike the United States's motion for leave to file a reply; directing Thompson to supplement his responses to the special interrogatories, with the exception of interrogatory 5, as requested by the United States within 21 days of the date of this order; and granting 12 the United States's motion to continue the trial and for the issuance of an amended scheduling order. The case is hereby returned to the active docket and an amended scheduling order will issue. Signed by Chief Judge Brian S. Miller on 7/27/2017. (kdr)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
WESTERN DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
v.
PLAINTIFF
CASE NO. 4:16CV00168 BSM
$284,950 IN U.S. CURRENCY
DEFENDANT
NIKKOLAS THOMPSON
CLAIMANT
ORDER
The United States is seeking to forfeit $284,950 in cash that was seized from claimant
Nikkolas Thompson at the Little Rock airport when he was attempting to take a flight to
California. TSA agents, examining Thompson’s luggage, discovered a false bottom in
Thompson’s suitcase that contained the money and contacted the Little Rock Police
Department and the Department of Homeland Security. A drug dog alerted to an odor of
narcotics emanating from the suitcase.
The United States is seeking forfeiture of the money, claiming it is the product of
illegal drug sales. This position is based on the positive canine alert and the fact that the
money was hidden in a secret compartment of Thompson’s suitcase. In response, Thompson
claims ownership of the money and is seeking its return. He argues that he and his
girlfriend/business partner jointly own the money. He states the money was earned in his and
his girlfriend’s separate paid employment and in their business. He states that he was on his
way to Ontario, California to scout prospective locations for a new studio for his business
and brought cash so he could purchase the property if he found something that would work.
After Thompson filed his claim and Answer, this case was stayed until completion of
the criminal investigation into Thompson’s activities. See Doc. No. 11. During this time,
the United States has received electronic discovery from Thompson to go along with all of
the items seized during its criminal investigation. In addition, the United States has served
special interrogatories, which Thompson has answered and supplemented.
Having reviewed and considered the entire record, the United States’s motion [Doc.
No. 13] to strike Thompson’s verified claim and answer is denied. The United States’s
motion [Doc. No. 19] for leave to file a reply in support of its motion to strike and
Thompson’s motion [Doc. No. 21] to strike the United States’s motion for leave to file a
reply are denied as moot. With the exception of interrogatory number five, Thompson is
ordered to supplement his responses to the special interrogatories as requested by the United
States within 21 days of the date of this order. See Doc. No. 13-9 (United States letter asking
Thompson to supplement answers to special interrogatories).
Although the United States argues that Thompson has failed to sufficiently make a
claim (either on his own or on behalf of his and his girlfriend’s business) to the money, the
bar that Thompson must chin to adequately plead a claim to the money is fairly low. See U.S.
v. $746,198 in U.S. Currency, more or less, 299 F. Supp. 2d 923, 927–30 (S.D. Iowa 2004)
(holding that an explanation that evidences some legitimate and legal claim to the property
at issue is enough to make a claim). Thompson’s explanation of his ownership interest in the
money is sufficient to make a claim to the money.
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Finally, the United States’s motion [Doc. No. 12] to continue the trial and for the
issuance of an amended scheduling order is granted. The case is hereby returned to the active
docket and an amended scheduling order will issue.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 27th day of July 2017.
________________________________
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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