Gines-Perez v. Kelly

SELYA, Circuit Judge.

Plaintiff-appellant Luis Gines-Perez appeals from the district court’s entry of summary judgment in favor of Raymond W. Kelly, Commissioner of the United States Customs Service (the Service). The underlying case involves the Service’s seizure of a boat belonging to the appellant on the ground that a culpable connection existed between the boat and certain money laundering and drug-trafficking activities. See 18 U.S.C. § 1956; 21 U.S.C. § 841. The appellant claims that the Service’s actions violated the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. We agree.

I

The genesis of…