[caption id="attachment_68174" align="aligncenter" width="320"] Judge orders $1M million returned to dancer[/caption]Judge Orders $1M Returned to Exotic Dancer

U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon ordered more than $1M be returned to Tara Mishra, an exotic dancer from Rancho Cucamonga, California. The money was confiscated from associates of Mishra by authorities in Nebraska.

According to Mishra's attorney, Robert Diamond, the woman had worked as an exotic dancer for more than a decade, saving much of her earnings in safe deposit boxes. Mishra decided to open her own business and two associates, along with the money, to drive to New Jersey to check out a potential business deal.

Mishra's two associates were detained by authorities in Nebraska for speeding. When a police officer asked to search the vehicle, the couple agreed. The officer discovered several bags in the trunk, each loaded with Mishra's cash. A drug dog alerted when the bags were searched. The couple was arrested and the money was confiscated by the U.S. government.

"On the way there, the two people in the car transporting the cash were stopped by a Nebraska state trooper for speeding," said Daimond.

"[The state trooper] took the two persons into custody, handcuffed them and drove them back to the office in Nebraska, where a dog specializing in sniffing for drugs sniffed positive for drug residue, allegedly, or drug odor on the money," said Diamond.

U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon ruled in Mishra's favor. Bataillon stated that there was a sufficient lack of evidence connecting Mishra and the money to drugs, and ordered that the money be returned to the dancer, along with an accrued interest.

"The government failed to show a substantial connection between drugs and the money," Bataillon wrote in his opinion. "The dog sniff is inconsequential…The court finds the Mishras' story is credible…Ms. Mishra did have control over the money and directed the Dheris to deliver the money to New Jersey for the purchase of the business."

Mishra has not yet received the funds, which Diamond estimates to be close to $1.1M.

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Reference Link:
Judge orders million returned to dancer
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/inland_empire&id=9184196

Judge Orders $1 Million Returned to Exotic Dancer
http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/judge-orders-1-million-returned-exotic-dancer-151044009.html

Judge Orders Police To Return $1 Million Seized Based On Drug Dog Sniff
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/07/25/2352931/judge-orders-police-to-return-1-million-seized-based-on-drug-dog-sniff/?mobile=nc