Commonwealth v. $5,000 in U.S. Currency

BACKENSTOE, P.J.,

On December 4, 1978, Sanford Bernstein was arrested and charged with the crime of criminal solicitation after he attempted to hire a “hit man” to kill his wife. He was convicted of the crime in September 1979, and despite numerous appeals, the conviction was never overturned. For the purposes of this forfeiture proceeding, Mr. Bernstein has agreed that the court may accept as proven that the $5,000 at *39issue here is the “down money” given as the initial payment for the contract killing.

In the present action, three claimants are attempting to show their legal rights to the…