United States v. $7,990.00 in U.S. Currency, George James Fiorentino, Claimant/appellant

LOKEN, Circuit Judge.

In October 1995, Minnesota police seized $7,990 in cash and four baggies of suspected contraband drugs from George James Fior-entino. In January 1996, Fiorentino pleaded guilty to illegal drug trafficking and was sentenced to 130 months in prison. In November 1996, the government filed a civil action to forfeit the cash pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(6). The district court 1 granted summary judgment for Fiorentino, concluding the government’s unreasonable delay in instituting the forfeiture proceeding violated Fiorentino’s due process rights. Rather than appeal, the…