United States v. Lot 9, Block 2 of Donnybrook Place

THORNBERRY, Circuit Judge:

Kenneth and Sheila Roberts own a house in Houston, Texas. The government alleges that in January and February, 1987, the Robertses used that house to distribute drugs to a government witness, Dean Ireland. Based on these assertions, the government filed a complaint asking that the Robertses’ home be forfeited to the United States. See 21 U.S.C.A. § 881(a)(7) (West Supp.1990). The district court granted the government’s request by issuing summary judgment in the government’s favor. The Robertses appeal that decision.

The government’s evidence showed probable cause to…