Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_12-cv-01999/USCOURTS-azd-2_12-cv-01999-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 690
Nature of Suit: Other Forfeiture and Penalty Suits
Cause of Action: 28:1355 Petition for Return of Property

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Joshua Bloom, 

Petitioner, 

vs.

United States Department of Treasury, 

Respondent. _________________________________

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No. CV-12-1999-PHX-FJM

ORDER

The court has before it petitioner’s petition for release of property pursuant to 18

U.S.C. § 983(f)(5) (doc. 1), and the government’s objection (doc. 6). Petitioner seeks the

release of a 2004 Rolls Royce Phantom Sedan, VIN SCA1S68444UX07410 (“vehicle”),

which was seized by the government pursuant to 31 U.S.C. § 5317(c)(2) and 18 U.S.C. § 981

and is now subject to forfeiture. The government contends that the vehicle was purchased

through financial transactions that were knowingly structured to avoid the reporting

requirements of 31 U.S.C. § 5313(a), in violation of 31 U.S.C. § 5324(a). Bloom now seeks

return of the vehicle, contending that its seizure has caused a financial hardship by

preventing him from operating his business. 

In order to support his petition for return of property, Bloom must show that (1) he

has a possessory interest in the vehicle, (2) he has sufficient ties to the community so as to

provide assurance that the property will be available at the time of trial, (3) the government’s

continued possession of the property will cause a substantial hardship, and (4) the hardship

outweighs the risk that the property will become unavailable if it is returned to the claimant

Case 2:12-cv-01999-FJM Document 12 Filed 01/28/13 Page 1 of 2
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while forfeiture proceedings are pending. 18 U.S.C. § 983(f)(1). 

Bloom claims to be the sole shareholder of Luxury Coach Services, Inc. (“LCS”),

which he contends provides luxury vehicle and limousine service within the Phoenix metro

area. He asserts that the vehicle is the property of LCS and that the LCS business is his main

source of income. (Doc. 1).

The government challenges Bloom’s claim of financial hardship, arguing that Bloom

has presented no evidence that the vehicle ever generated any income. Although Bloom

claims that LCS is incorporated in Nevada and Arizona, the Nevada corporation’s license

expired on February 28, 2011, and the Arizona corporate status was revoked on October 28,

2011. In addition, LCS has never been licensed to operate a limousine service in Arizona,

and there is no record of any income generated by LCS. In fact there is no record of any

wages paid to Bloom in the last three years. Finally, Bloom’s driver’s license was revoked

following a DUI conviction, and although two other luxury vehicles are also purported to be

owned by LCS, Bloom has made no effort to place these vehicles in service in place of the

seized vehicle. 

The government has called into question Bloom’s community ties, establishing that

he has significant connections with other states, including addresses, driver’s licenses, and

vehicles registered in Virginia and Delaware. The government also has demonstrated that

any claimed hardship is far outweighed by the risk that the vehicle will be unavailable if it

is returned to Bloom while the forfeiture proceedings are pending. The vehicle is highly

mobile and could be moved, sold, damaged or destroyed with little effort, making recovery

difficult, if not impossible. Bloom did not respond to the government’s objections.

We conclude that Bloom has failed to satisfy the requirements of 18 U.S.C. §

983(f)(1). Therefore, IT IS ORDERED DENYING Bloom’s petition for release of property

(doc. 1). The clerk shall enter final judgment. 

DATED this 28th day of January, 2013.

Case 2:12-cv-01999-FJM Document 12 Filed 01/28/13 Page 2 of 2