Case ID: f-appx_78/html/0994-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM:\n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ONE 1996 LEXUS LS 400, VIN JT8BH22F8T0036858, Defendant, Increase Ebong Isang, Movant-Appellant.
    No. 03-10618
    Summary Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    Oct. 29, 2003.
    Diane Marie Kozub, US Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth, TX, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
    Increase Ebong Isang, pro se, Milan, NM, for Movan1>-Appellant.
    Before JONES, BENAVIDES, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

Increase Ebong Isang, federal prisoner #24177-077, has moved this court for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”) in an appeal from the district court’s judgment determining that one 1996 Lexus LS 400, VIN JT8BH22F8T0036858, is subject to forfeiture pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(C). In denying Isang’s motion for leave to proceed IFP on appeal, the district court certified that the appeal is not taken in good faith under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) and Fed. R.App. P. 24(a). By moving for IFP, Isang has challenged the district court’s certification. See Baugh v. Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202 (5th Cir.1997).

The district court did not err in rejecting Isang’s contention that the forfeiture was illegal because he was not provided with pre-deprivation notice and hearing. See Calero-Toledo v. Pearson Yacht Leasing Co., 416 U.S. 663, 679-80, 94 S.Ct. 2080, 40 L.Ed.2d 452 (1974). Nor did it err in rejecting Isang’s contention that the forfeiture was illegal because the Lexus was not seized pursuant to a search warrant. See United States v. $9,041,598.68, 163 F.3d 238, 250 (5th Cir.1998). In granting the motion for summary judgment, the district court concluded that the United States had met its burden of proving that Isang had engaged in the criminal activity described in 18 U.S.C. § 513(a) and that the Government had shown that the Lexus was derived from the proceeds of that criminal activity. Isang presented no competent summary judgment evidence to the contrary. No error has been shown.

Because Isang has not shown that his appeal will present legal points arguable on their merits, the appeal is DISMISSED AS FRIVOLOUS. See Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 219-20 (5th Cir.1983); 5th Cir. R. 42.2; see also Baugh, 117 F.3d at 202 n. 24. The motion for leave to proceed IFP on appeal is DENIED.

APPEAL DISMISSED; IFP DENIED. 
      
       Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.