Commonwealth v. $6,425.00 Seized from Esquilin

OPINION

Justice CASTILLE.

This appeal raises questions concerning the proper inferences available in a forfeiture case, as well as the proper standard for reviewing a trial court's forfeiture determination. The Commonwealth Court panel in this case overturned the trial court’s determination that $6,425.00 in cash found on appellee Richard Esquilin1 subsequent to his arrest for participating as the “money man” in illegal drug transactions was subject to forfeiture. In ordering the entire sum forfeited, the trial court found: (1) that a sufficient nexus existed between the money and the illegal…