On September 10, 1975, Mary Josephine Vasquez and a travel companion landed at Los Angeles International Airport after a short trip to Canada.

Between November 1976 and April 1976, Pompeo contacted various state, federal, and Canadian law enforcement officers to determine whether the currency was part of a narcotics operation.

[3] In January 1976, Vasquez's attorney contacted Pompeo seeking an update on the status of the investigation, and was informed that it was still ongoing.

By this time, Agent Pompeo had received final reports from the law enforcement agencies, and concluded that there was no evidence that the money was part of a narcotics operation.

Count One charged Vasquez with knowingly and willfully making false statements to a United States Customs officer, in violation of 18 U.S.C.

[5] In August 1976, Agent Pompeo requested that the disposition of Vasquez's petition be delayed until the currency was no longer needed as evidence in the criminal trial.

[5] On March 10, 1977, the Customs Service informed Vasquez that the forfeiture claim had been referred to the United States Attorney.

After a two-day bench trial in January 1978, the District Court found that, under the circumstances, the time that had elapsed was reasonable, and declared the currency forfeited.

The Court further held that when the necessary elements of the forfeiture were established at the time of the seizure, and when the claimant requests a speedy disposition of the claim, pending administrative or criminal proceedings cannot justify the delay.