United States v. One 1974 Cadillac Eldorado Vin: 6l47s40431975, Registered to Willie E. Farrow v. Willie E. Farrow, as Owner of the Vehicle

This is an appeal from an order of the Western District of New York, Elfvin, J., which forfeited a 1974 Cadillac Eldorado under 21 U.S.C. § 881 and 49 U.S.C. §§ 781-788. There being no grounds for a finding of probable cause to believe that the subject vehicle had been used to carry or facilitate the sale of contraband, we reverse.

On May 26,1976, Joseph Burns and Patricia Siracuse, agents of the Drug Enforcement Agency, prepared to purchase heroin from Willie E. Farrow in Niagara Falls, New York. Preliminary negotiations were conducted at an address on Ontario Avenue in that city; then the…