Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca10-87-01494/USCOURTS-ca10-87-01494-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 690
Nature of Suit: Other Forfeiture and Penalty Suits
Cause of Action: 

---

FILED 

United States Court of Appeals 

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS 

FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT 

':"l':nt,t- f"lf..-r•t'! ; .,;. 

JAN 2 7 i989 

ROBERT L. Hut;CKER 

Clerk UNITED STATES OF AMERICA , 

Plaintiff-Appellee , 

v. 

ONE CHEVROLET PICKUP, Oklahoma 

License 214-451-T, 

Defendant, 

ELDON LEE STARK, JR. 

Claimant-Appellant. 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

ORDER AND JUDGMENT 

No . 87-1494 

(D.C . No . 86-977-R) 

(W.D. Okla.) 

Before McKAY, MOORE, and BRORBY, Circuit Judges. 

After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel 

has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially 

assist the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 

34(a): 10th Cir. R. 34.1.9. 

submitted without oral argument. 

The cause is therefore ordered 

This is an appeal from an order of the district court 

ordering the defendant vehicle forfeited pursuant to 18 u.s.c. 

§ 512. Under § 512, if a vehicle identification number is 

removed, obliterated, tampered with, or altered, the vehicle is 

subject to seizure and forfeiture. The evidence showed that a VIN 

Appellate Case: 87-1494 Document: 01019962414 Date Filed: 01/27/1989 Page: 1 
i n the seized vehicle had been removed and reinstalled. As we 

understand it, claimant relies on the so-called bona fide 

purchaser defense of S 512(a)(l). However, that defense applies 

only to identification numbers on motor vehicle parts which are 

attached to a motor vehicle. Further, the district court's 

factual determinations that claimant could not be a bona fide 

purchaser is not clearly erroneous. 

The judgment of the United States District Court for the 

Western District of Oklahoma is AFFIRMED. 

The mandate shall issue forthwith . 

ENTERED FOR THE COURT 

PER CURIAM 

2 

Appellate Case: 87-1494 Document: 01019962414 Date Filed: 01/27/1989 Page: 2