DEA Cites Drug Link in Seizure of 2 Homes : Federal law: The owners will have to prove in a civil suit that the houses were not bought with tainted money or used in narcotics transactions. : GLENDALE

Federal authorities have seized two Glendale homes which, they said, the owners were using as locations to make drug sales.

On April 15, Drug Enforcement Administration agents took control of the two-story, single-family home of Eugene Kiesau, 52, after persuading a federal judge that the house was a base of operations for cocaine sales, according to a court affidavit.

Kiesau, the father of three, is well-known in the community as a dedicated parent who helped raise thousands of dollars over the past few years for Glendale High School and its booster club.

But local authorities allege that Kiesau has been selling drugs since at least 1987. Acting on a tip, Glendale police arrested Kiesau on Feb. 18 on suspicion of selling 82.4 grams of cocaine for $2,300 in the parking lot of a local restaurant, court records show.

Kiesau, who listed his occupation as “parimutuel betting,” was ordered to appear in Pasadena Superior Court on May 6 on felony charges of possession of cocaine and possession of the drug for sale.

Kiesau’s home, in the 1800 block of Alpha Road, was seized under the terms of a federal forfeiture law, which allows the government to take control of a property if a judge believes it has been used for selling drugs, or was probably purchased with the proceeds from drug sales.

Under the same law, federal agents on April 10 seized a home in the 3600 block of Roselawn Avenue owned by Paul Warrington, 47, who was arrested Feb. 27 on suspicion of possession of methamphetamines for sale.

Warrington, who is on probation for an earlier drug conviction, faces a preliminary hearing on June 2.

The forfeiture law has been under fire by criminal defense attorneys, who question whether the government should be allowed to seize a defendant’s money or assets before a conviction.

These questions were renewed earlier this month when the government seized the $3-million Malibu mansion of a lawyer who DEA agents say aided an international drug smuggling organization, but who has not been charged with any crime.

In order to reclaim their homes, Kiesau and Warrington will have to prove in a civil trial that their homes were neither used for selling drugs nor purchased with proceeds from drug sales, DEA Special Agent John M. Marcello said.

In both Glendale homes, according to court records, police found drugs, large sums of cash and paraphernalia associated with drug sales.

Last year, the DEA seized 47 homes in the Los Angeles area, and so far this year the agency has taken control of 20 houses owned by suspected drug traffickers.