DRUG MONEY SEIZED?

Last October, federal agents raided the home of Juan N. Arispe,
seizing about a kilo of cocaine and more than $11,700 in cash.

They also took more than $7,100 from two of Arispe's bank accounts,
but never charged the retiree.

Now, Arispe wants the money back.

"Some of that money was here at my home," said Arispe, who has
petitioned the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency for the return of the
cash. "That money is from my pension and retirement."

Arispe, 68, who lives on Wisner near Wilkins, retired from the Saginaw
Malleable Iron Plant in 1988. He said he worked there for 37 years.

Arispe and his attorney, Rodney J. O'Farrell, declined further
comment.

Government agents, who are investigating Arispe on narcotics
allegations, contend the money is from drug-sale profits and that the
seizure is in line with federal drug forfeiture laws.

"Arispe can still contest the forfeiture," said William R. Dodson,
resident agent in charge of the DEA in Saginaw.

But, he will have to prove it wasn't used in a drug operation, Dodson
said.

When authorities complete the criminal investigation, it's up to the
U.S. Attorney's office to present the case to a grand jury for
possible indictment, Dodson said. A spokeswoman from the U.S.
Attorney's office in Bay City said a grand jury has not indicted
Arispe, adding that she could not discuss the case.

DEA agents arrested Arispe at his home on drug charges and released
him pending further investigation, Dodson said.

Agents seized more than a kilogram of combined cocaine and crack
cocaine, he said. The street value of the drugs is between $25,000 and
$32,000, Dodson said.

They also confiscated $1,906.77 from Arispe's account at Great Lakes
National Bank, $5,278.07 at Amalgamated Credit Union, and $11,733 in
his home.

The DEA takes similar forfeiture actions 50 to 60 times a year in
mid-Michigan, Dodson said, adding that by law, the DEA must post in a
major newspaper the properties seized.

Arispe's name was one of hundreds that recently appeared in the The
Wall Street Journal's legal notice page.

"It's for anybody who thinks they have a legitimate interest in the
property," Dodson said.

To claim the property, interested parties have to file a petition to
place a bond on the property, or they can claim they're indigent in
lieu of a bond, Dodson said.

They should contact the DEA's Office of Domestic Operations, Asset
Forfeiture Section, Caller No. 91017, Arlington, Va., 22202.

If no one petitions the DEA for the property, or if Arispe does not
win it back, the agency will keep some of it and the rest will go to
law enforcement departments that request it, Dodson said.