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Chapter 1 - Introduction to Forfeiture

1.1 Over View of Federal Forfeiture
1.2 What is Forfeiture?
1.3 Criminal vs. Civil Forfeiture
1.4 Federal vs. State Forfeitures
1.5 How to Use this Book

2.1 Historical Background of Forfeiture
    2.1.1 Biblical Antecedents of Forfeiture
    2.1.2 Early Common Law Antecedents of Forfeiture
    2.1.3 Early American Forfeiture Law
    2.1.4 19th Century and Forfeiture
2.2 Modern Forfeiture
    2.2.1 Forfeiture and the 4th Amendment
    2.2.2 Forfeiture and the Fifth Amendment's Substantive Due Process
        2.2.2.1 Innocent Ownership
        2.2.2.2 Outrageous Government Conduct
    2.2.3 Forfeiture and the Fifth Amendment's Procedural Due Process
    2.2.4 Forfeiture and the Eight Amendment's Excessive Fine Clause
    2.2.5 Forfeiture and Fifth Amendment's Double Jeopardy Clause
2.3 Present Forfeiture Realities

3.1 Property under 21 U.S.C. §881 - Overview
3.2 Contraband per se - §881(a)(1)
3.3 Raw materials, Products and Equipment - §881(a)(2)
3.4 Containers - §881(a)(3)
3.5 Conveyances & Statutory Defenses - §881(a)(4)
    3.5.1 Conveyances That Transport Controlled Substances
    3.5.2 Conveyances That Facilitate Trafficking in Controlled Substances
    3.5.3 Statutory Defenses to Conveyance Forfeitures Under §881(a)(4)
3.6 Books, Records & Research - §881(a)(5)
3.7 Exchange Money, Traceable Proceeds and Facilitating Money - §881(a)(6)
    3.7.1 Exchange Money
    3.7.2 Traceable Proceeds
    3.7.3 Facilitation Money, Negotiable Instruments & Securities
    3.7.4 Statutory Defense of Innocent Owner
3.8 Facilitating Real Property - §881(a)(7)
3.9 Chemicals, Equipment, Machines and Capsules - §881(a)(9)
3.10 Drug Paraphernalia - §881(a)(10)
3.11 Firearms - §881(a)(11)
3.12 Statutory Innocent Owner Defense Under §881(a) (4), (6) & (7)
    3.12.1 Scope of Owner
    3.12.2 Knowledge or Consent - Conjunctive or Disjunctive
    3.12.3 Meaning of "Knowledge of Owner"
    3.12.4 Meaning of "Consent of Owner"
    3.12.5 "Willful Blindness" and the Statutory Innocent Owner Defense
    3.12.6 The "Relations Back Doctrine" and the Statutory Innocent Owner Defense

4.1 Property Forfeitable under 18 U.S.C. §981 - Overview
4.2 Definition of "Property Involved"
4.3 Criminal Transaction Reports (§981(a)(1)(A))
4.4 Money Laundering Offenses (§981(a)(1)(A))
    4.4.1 Proceeds Money
    4.4.2 Commingled Money
    4.4.3 Exchanged Property
    4.4.4 Facilitating Property
    4.4.5 Traceable Proceeds (§981(a)(1)(A))
4.5 Proceeds of Foreign Drug Violations (§981(a)(1)(B))
4.6 FIRREA and Other Criminal Offense Forfeitures (§981(a)(1)(C)&(D))
4.7 Carjacking (§981(a)(1)(F))
4.8 Innocent Owner Defense (§981(a)(2))
4.9 Seizures Under §981
4.10 Special Evidentiary Rules for §981 Seizures

5.1 Property under 18 U.S.C. §1955 (Gambling)
5.2 Property under 31 U.S.C. §5317(c) (Monetary Transportation)

6.1 Bank Account Forfeitures
    6.1.1 Nature of Bank Accounts
    6.1.2 Seizure of Bank Accounts
    6.1.3 Disclosure of Congressionally Protected Financial Information
    6.1.4 "Related Parties" Captions
    6.1.5 Suspicions Activity Reports
    6.1.6 Office of Foreign Asset Control
    6.1.7 Money Transmitting Business Regulations
    6.1.8 Possession of Seized Bank Account Funds During Litigation
    6.1.9 Special Rules for Interbank Accounts
6.2 Cash, Check & Cash Equivalent Forfeitures
    6.2.1 Currency or Monetary Instruments Reports ("CMIR")
    6.2.2 I.R.S. Form 8300
    6.2.3 Currency Transaction Report ("CTR")
    6.2.4 Dog Alerts to Currency
6.3 Titled Property Forfeitures
    6.3.1 Real Property
    6.3.2 Vehicles
    6.3.3 Aircraft
    6.3.4 Vessels
6.4 On Going Business Seizures

7.1 International Forfeitures
7.2 Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction of Assets in Foreign Countries
7.3 International Sharing Agreements

8.1 Property Seizures - Overview
8.2 Fourth Amendment Warrant Seizure
8.3 Warrant-In-Rem Seizure
8.4 Seizure Without Warrant
    8.4.1 Warrantless Seizures Under §881(b)
8.5 Seizure By Adoption
8.6 Real Property Seizures

9.1 Limiting Scope of Employment as Attorney with Client
9.2 Contact with Seizing Agency
9.3 Cataloging seized property
9.4 Client protection from incrimination - Fifth Amendment
9.5 Preserving the Value of the Seized Property

10.1 Client as Undercover Agent
10.2 Ethics, Attorneys and Forfeiture
10.3 Getting the Facts From the Client
    10.3.1 Administrative Resolution
    10.3.2 Judicial Resolution
    10.3.3 Both Administrative and Judicial Resolution
    10.3.4 Time Line of Resolutions
10.4 Calculating cost of representation and fees
10.5 Getting a signed Fee Agreement
10.6 Securing executed Claims, Declarations and Freedom of Information Requests
10.7 Counter-Claim Advisability and Federal Tort Claim Act Requirements
10.8 Factual Case Preparation
    10.8.1 Written Statements
    10.8.2 Documents
    10.8.3 Miscellaneous Evidence

11.1 Special Notices For "Personal Use Seizures" and Conveyances
11.2 Notice of Seizure
    11.2.1 Legal Issues Regarding Notice
    11.2.1 Timing of Notice
    11.2.2 Contents of Notice of Seizure

12.1 Code of Federal Regulations
12.2 D.E.A. & F.B.I. Quick Release Regulations
    12.2.1 Preliminary Matters
    12.2.2 The Expedited Petition - Substantive Issues
    12.2.3 The Expedited Petition - Procedural Issues
    12.2.4 Determination of the Petition for Expedited Release
12.3 United States Attorney Office Quick Release Regulations
12.4 Customs Quick Release Regulations
12.5 Substitute Res Bond

13.1 Tactical Considerations
13.2 Settlement Authority

14.1 Tactical Reasons for Making the Motion for an Emergency Hearing
14.2 Basis for Emergency Hearings
    14.2.1 Rule 41(e)
    14.2.2 Anomalous Jurisdiction of District Courts
14.3 Factual Basis For Equitable Relief
14.4 Legal Argument
14.5 Interim Relief
14.6 Fees for Emergency hearings under the Equal Access To Justice Act ("EAJA")

15.1 Substitution of Res
    15.1.1 Customs Regulations
    15.1.2 D.O.J. Regulations
    15.1.3 Judicial Intervention For Substitution of Res
15.2 Maintenance of Asset
15.3 Interlocutory Sales
    15.3.1 Fees & Costs Associated With Interlocutory Sales
    15.3.2 Interlocutory Sale Mechanics
    15.3.3 Objections to Interlocutory Sales
    15.3.4 Proceeds of Interlocutory Sale

16.1 Statutory Basis For Administrative Forfeiture
16.2 Initiation of the Administrative Forfeiture Process
16.3 Notice of Seizure
16.4 Contents of Notice
16.5 Petition for Remission and/or Mitigation
16.6 Judicial Review of Administrative Decisions
16.7 Presidential Pardons

17.1 Authority for and Purpose of Remission or Mitigation
17.2 Administrative Forfeiture Petitions
    17.2.1 Filing Time Limits
    17.2.2 Persons Who May File
    17.2.3 Contents of Petition
    17.2.4 Filing Petition With Agency
    17.2.5 Investigation and Ruling
    17.2.6 Restoration of Proceeds from Sale
17.3 Judicial Forfeiture Petitions
17.4 Criteria Governing Remission Petitions
    17.4.1 Predicate Criteria
    17.4.2 Ownership Criteria
    17.4.3 Innocence Criteria
17.5 Criteria Governing Mitigation Petitions
17.6 Specific Rules for Specific Petitioners
17.7 Terms and Conditions of Remission or Mitigation
17.8 Victims as Petitioners
17.9 Miscellaneous Provisions

18.1 Customs Service Regulations for Remission or Mitigation
18.2 Forum Shopping
18.3 Administrative Forfeiture Petitions
    18.3.1 Filing Time Limits
    18.3.2 Persons Who May File
    18.3.3 Contents of Petition
    18.3.4 Filing Petition With Agency
    18.3.5 Investigation and Ruling
    18.3.6 Administrative Appeals
    18.3.7 Restoration of Proceeds from Sale

19.1 I.N.S. Regulations for Remission or Mitigation
19.2 Gete, et al. vs. Immigration And Naturalization Service, et al.

20.1 Administrative Forfeiture Petitions
20.2 Filing Time Limits
20.3 Persons Who May File
20.4 Contents of Petition
20.5 Filing Petition With Agency
20.6 Investigation and Ruling

21.1 Administrative Forfeiture Petitions
21.2 Filing Time Limits
21.3 Persons Who May File
21.4 Contents of Petition
21.5 Filing Petition With Agency
21.6 Investigation and Ruling

22.1 Administrative Forfeiture Petitions
22.2 Filing Petition With Agency

23.1 Administrative Forfeiture
23.2 Filing Time Limits
23.3 Persons Who May File
23.4 Contents of Petition
23.5 Filing Petition With Agency
23.6 Investigation and Ruling
23.7 Restoration of Proceeds from Sale

24.1 Removal To District Court - Overview
24.2 Authority for the Judicial Process
24.3 Judicial Process Commencement
    24.3.1 Claim Requirements
    24.3.2 Bond Requirements
    24.3.3 Proceeding in Forum Pauperis
24.4 Confirming filing and expediting referral to U.S. Attorney
24.5 Confirming receipt by U.S. Attorney and expediting filing and service of Complaint

25.1 Settlement Overview
25.2 Government's Settlement Authority
25.3 Preliminary Evaluation by Assistant United States Attorney
    25.3.1 Prospects for Success
    25.3.2 Wisdom of Proceeding
    25.3.3 Law Enforcement Objectives
    25.3.4 Deferral to State Proceedings
25.4 D.O.J.'s Forfeiture Settlement Policy
    25.4.1 General Policy
    25.4.2 Settlements Through Administrative Forfeitures
    25.4.3 Settlements through Judicial Forfeiture
    25.4.4 Acceptance of Monetary Amount in Lieu of Forfeiture
    25.4.5 Agreements to Exempt Attorneys' Fees from Forfeiture
    25.4.6 Settlements with Fugitives
25.5 Expedited Settlement Policy for Perfected Lienholders
25.6 Practical Considerations in Settlement

26.1 Complaint for Forfeiture In Rem
26.2 Warrant of Arrest for Articles In Rem
26.3 Probable Cause Determination
26.4 Execution of Process
    26.4.1 Notice by Publication
    26.4.2 Personal Notice
26.5 Unanswered Complaints

27.1 Tactical Considerations Prior to Responding
27.2 Claim
    27.2.1 Time to File Claim
    27.2.2 Verification
    27.2.3 Standing to Make Claim
27.3 Answer and Demand for Jury Trial
27.4 Affirmative Defenses
27.5 Counterclaims
    27.5.1 Federal Tort Claim Act
    27.5.2 Biven's Action
27.6 Rule 11 Motion
27.7 Motion for More Definite Statement
27.8 Motions to Dismiss

28.1 Tensions of Responding to Government Discovery Requests
28.2 Interrogatories to Claimant

29.1 Freedom of Information Request
29.2 Depositions of Federal Employees
29.3 Confidential Informants
29.4 Request to Admit
29.5 Request to Produce
29.6 Interrogatories
29.7 Special Assistant United States Attorneys
29.8 Confidentiality Agreements

30.1 Claimant's Motion to Suppress Evidence
    30.1.1 Constitutional Suppression
    30.1.2 Statutory Suppression
    30.1.3 Regulatory Suppression
30.2 Claimant's Summary Judgment Motion
30.3 Government's Summary Judgment Motion on Probable Cause
30.4 Government's Summary Judgment Motion on Affirmative Defenses

31.1 Motions in Limine
31.2 Bifurcation
31.3 Severance
31.4 §104(a) Examination

32.1 Judge v. Jury
32.2 Allocation of Burden of Proof
32.3 Government's Case
    32.3.1 Direct Evidence
    32.3.2 Circumstantial Evidence
    32.3.3 Hearsay
    32.3.4 Expert Opinion Evidence
    32.3.5 Government's Rebuttal
32.4 Claimant's Case
    32.4.1 Standing to Claim Property
    32.4.2 Rebuttal to Government's Case - Lack of Probable Cause
    32.4.3 Affirmative Defenses
        32.4.3.1 Statute of Limitations
        32.4.3.2 Innocent Owner Defense
        32.4.3.3 Unreasonable Delay
        32.4.3.4 Common Carrier/Stolen Conveyance
        32.4.3.5 Excessive Fine
32.5 Jury Instructions
32.6 Verdict & Judgement, and Certificate of Reasonable Cause
32.7 Motion for New Trial

33.1 Over View
33.2 Notice of Property Subject to Criminal Forfeiture
33.3 Restraining Orders
    33.3.1 Pre-Indictment Restraining Orders
    33.3.2 Restraining Orders after Indictment
    33.3.3 Restraining Orders and Attorney Fees
33.4 Rebuttable Presumption At Trial
33.5 Verdict
33.6 Forfeiture Sentence
33.7 Execution Upon Criminally Forfeited Property
33.8 Miscellaneous Provisions
33.9 Third-Party Claims to Criminally Forfeited Property
    33.9.1 Pre-Ancillary Hearing Relief
    33.9.2 The Ancillary Hearing - Preliminary Matters
    33.9.3 Timing of the Hearing
    33.9.4 The Ancillary Hearing
    33.9.5 Ancillary Hearing - Determination by the Court

Chapter 1 Introduction to Forfeiture

    No appendix

Chapter 2 The Lineage of Forfeiture Law

    Flam v. City of Miami, 449 So.2d 367 (3rd DCA 1984)
    Janet Reno Memo re: Forfeiture

Chapter 3 Forfeitures Under 21 U.S.C. §881

     21 U.S.C. §881 - Forfeitures

Chapter 4 Forfeitures Under 18 U.S.C. §981
 
    18 U.S.C. § 981 - Civil forfeiture
    18 U.S.C. § 984 - Civil forfeiture of fungible property

Chapter 5 Other Forfeiture Statutes

    No appendix

Chapter 6 Specific Property Forfeitures

    Lopez v. First Union, 129 F.3d 1186 (11th Cir. 1997)

Chapter 7 International Forfeitures

    No appendix

Chapter 8 Property Seizures

    Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure - Rule 41. Search and Seizure

Chapter 9 Forfeiture Seizure in Progress

    No appendix

Chapter 10 Initial Client Meeting

    Forfeiture Case Fee & Cost Work Sheet
    Legal Representation and Fee Agreement
    Freedom of Information Request Letter with Waiver and Authorization to Release
        Records
    Federal Tort Claim Letter

Chapter 11 Notice of Seizure Letters

    D.E.A. Notice of Seizure Letter
    Customs Notice of Seizure Letter
    Motion to file late claim and cost bond

Chapter 12 Quick Release From Seizing Agency

    D.E.A., D.O.J. and F.B.I.. Expedited Forfeiture Proceeding Regulations
    Customsís Expedited Forfeiture Proceeding Regulations
    Petition for Expedited Release of Seized Property
    Attorney's Cover Letter to Accompany Petition For Expedited Release

Chapter 13 Quick Settlement

    Letter of Compromise

Chapter 14 Emergency Judicial Relief

    Sample Motion for Emergency Relief

Chapter 15 Preserving Asset Value During Litigation

    Substitute ìResî and Interlocutory Sales regulations
 
Chapter 16 Administrative Forfeiture - Overview

    19 USCS § 1600 et. seq. - Customsí Forfeiture Procedures
    Letter giving notice of interest in seized property
    D.O.J. Directive 93-4 regarding prompt notice of seizure letters
    Petition for Remission or Mitigation
 
 Chapter 17 Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement
          Administration and Immigration and Naturalization Service Administrative
          Forfeiture Regulations
 
    28 C.F.R. Part 9 - Remission and Mitigation Regulations
    Sample Ruling on Petition for Remission or Mitigation

Chapter 18 United States Customs Service and Department of Treasury Administrative
          Forfeiture Regulations

    19 C.F.R. Part 171 - Remission and Mitigation Regulations

Chapter 19 Immigration and Naturalization Service and Department of Justice Administrative
          Forfeiture Regulations

    8 C.F.R. Part 274 - Remission and Mitigation Regulations

Chapter 20 Internal Revenue Service and Department of Treasury Administrative Forfeiture
          Regulations

    26 C.F.R. Part 403 - Remission and Mitigation Regulations

Chapter 21 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Department of Treasury
          Administrative Forfeiture Regulations

    27 C.F.R. Part 72 - Remission and Mitigation Regulations
 
Chapter 22 United States Postal Service Administrative Forfeiture Regulations

    39 C.F.R. Part 233 - Remission and Mitigation Regulations

Chapter 23 United States Fish and Wildlife Service and Department of the Interior
          Administrative Forfeiture Regulations

    50 C.F.R. Part 12 - Remission and Mitigation Regulations

Chapter 24 Removal To District Court

    Personal Administrative Claims, Corporate Claims, Attorney Claims
    Affidavit in Support of Request to Proceed In Forma Pauperis

Chapter 25 Settlement Considerations

    28 C.F.R. O, Subpart Y--Authority to Compromise and Close Civil Claims and
    Responsibility for Judgments, Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures
    Sample Settlement Agreement

Chapter 26  Commencing the Judicial Proceeding, Complaint & Process

    Federal Rules For Civil Procedure - Supplemental Rules for Certain Admiralty and
         Maritime Claims

Chapter 27 Claimantís Responses To The Forfeiture Complaint

    Personal Judicial Claims, Corporate Claims, Attorney Claims
    Answer and Affirmative Defenses to Complaint for Forfeiture in Rem
    Counter-Claim under the Right to Financial Privacy and Electronic Privacy Acts
    ìBivensî Complaint
    Rule 11 letter and motion

Chapter 28 Government's Discovery of Claimant's Case

    No appendix

Chapter 29 Claimant's Discovery of the Government's Case

    28 C.F.R. §16.23 letter to depose federal agents
    Confidential Informant interrogatories and request to produce
    Motion to compel
    Request for Admissions
    Request to Produce
    Interrogatories regarding factual and legal contentions
    Confidentiality Agreements

Chapter 30 Motion to Suppress Evidence - Summary Judgment

    Motion to Suppress on Constitutional Grounds
    Motion To Suppress on Regulatory Grounds
    Motion for Summary Judgment and  Memorandum of Law in Support
    Motions in Limine and Miscellaneous Trial Motions

Chapter 31 Pre-Trial Issues

    Motions in Limine and Miscellaneous Trial Motions
    Claimants' Motion to Exclude Plaintiff's Witnesses and Documents
    Claimants' Motion For Separate Trial and Supporting Memorandum of Law
    Motion for §104(a) Examination

Chapter 32 Trial

    Jury Instructions

Chapter 33 Criminal Forfeiture

    Petition for Ancillary Hearing

Chapter 34 Final Words

    No Appendix