United States of America v. $1,074,900.00 in United States Currency

Filing 45

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER - The claimant's motion to change venue, Filing No. 11 , is denied. The objections of the claimant, Filing No. 35 , are overruled. The order of the magistrate judge, Filing No. 27 , is affirmed in its entirety. Ordered by Judge Joseph F. Bataillon. (AOA)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff,

8:12CV297

vs.
$1,074,900.00 IN UNITED STATES
CURRENCY,

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

Defendant.
TARA MISHRA,
Claimant.

This matter is before the court on the claimant Tara Mishra’s objection, Filing No.
35, to the magistrate judge’s order, Filing No. 27, denying her motion to change venue,
Filing No. 11. Claimant moved to change the venue from Nebraska to California or, in
the alternative, New Jersey. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636, the court has reviewed the
order of the magistrate judge Filing No. 27, and, in particular, the objections of the
claimant, and finds the magistrate judge is correct in all respects.
Briefly, Nebraska State Patrol Trooper Ryan Hayes stopped a vehicle for
speeding. He asked for permission to search the vehicle driven by Rajesh Manju Dheri
and Marina Dheri. He received permission and ultimately found the $1,074,900.00 in
currency. The Dheris are recorded talking to each other during the search, wherein
they agree to say the money is not theirs but belongs to a friend. They further stated
the money was given to them to start a new business in New Jersey. A canine sniff of
the money indicated the odor of controlled substances. The claimant in this case is
Tara Mishra who resides in California. She claims the money was not used for drugs
and that she gave the money to the Dheris for a new business in New Jersey. The

claimant contends that she has bank witnesses that will attest to the storage of her
money in the bank deposit boxes in California; she also has witnesses in New Jersey
who would testify as to proceedings before the local City Council and about the
negotiations for the club in New Jersey.
The magistrate judge denied the motion to change venue. Filing No. 27. The
magistrate judge determined that 28 U.S.C. § 1395(a) applies which states: “[a] civil
proceeding for the recovery of a pecuniary fine, penalty or forfeiture may be prosecuted
in the district where it accrues or the defendant is found.” The magistrate judge then
reviewed 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a) and the factors enumerated by the Eighth Circuit in Terra
Int’l, Inc. v. Miss. Chem. Corp., 119 F.3d 688, 691 (8th Cir. 1997), and determined a
transfer to California or New Jersey is not warranted. The claimant filed objections
contending that venue should be changed to either California or New Jersey. The court
has carefully reviewed the magistrate judge’s order and finds it is correct in all respects.
The act in question giving rise to this case occurred in Nebraska. The United States is
entitled to file its suit here. The factors do not weigh in favor of California or New
Jersey.
THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED:
1.

The claimant’s motion to change venue, Filing No. 11, is denied.

2.

The objections of the claimant, Filing No. 35, are overruled.

3.

The order of the magistrate judge, Filing No. 27, is affirmed in its entirety.

Dated this 29th day of January, 2013.
BY THE COURT:

s/ Joseph F. Bataillon
United States District Judge
2