United States v. 42450 Highway 441 North Fort Drum

The Government appeals from an order of the district court finding that the defendant property, a one-acre parcel of land containing a single family home, was not subject to civil forfeiture under 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(7) (1988), because the Government did not demonstrate probable cause to believe that a substantial connection existed between the property and an illegal drug transaction. We disagree with the district court's decision, and reverse.

I

The claimant to the property, Alton Pad-gett, owned five contiguous parcels of land in Okeechobee County, Florida, including the parcel containing his…