In re Chandler
In re Chandler
Opinion of the Court
ORDER DENYING MOTIONS FOR RETURN OF SEIZED PROPERTY
This matter comes before the Court on Dean G. Chandler and Gary Bobel’s motions for the return of seized property pursuant to Rule 41(g) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. The matter was fully briefed and came on for hearing on August 26, 2010. Michael Pancer and Gretchen Von Helms appeared on behalf of movants. Valerie Chu and Bruce Smith appeared on behalf of the government. For the reasons set forth below, the motions are denied.
I.
BACKGROUND
On June 23, 2010, the United States seized funds in several bank accounts belonging to Chandler and Bobel pursuant to a pre-indictment seizure warrant issued by a magistrate judge based upon a showing of probable cause that the funds were associated with movants’ criminal activity. The government contends that Chandler and Bobel engaged in illegal activity in connection with loan modification services. Chandler and Bobel now move the Court for a hearing, at which
II.
DISCUSSION
Chandler and Bobel argue their sixth amendment right to counsel and fifth amendment right to due process have been abridged by the government’s seizure of lawfully obtained funds, which has deprived them of their ability to retain counsel during the criminal investigation. Accordingly, they seek a hearing to prove the seized funds derive from legitimate sources, are not tainted by illicit conduct, and are necessary to ensure their right to effective assistance of counsel.
When a motion pursuant to Rule 41(g) is filed before criminal proceedings are instituted, the motion is “treated as [a] civil equitable proceeding! ] and, therefore, a district court must exercise ‘caution and restraint’ before assuming jurisdiction.” Ramsden v. United States, 2 F.3d 322, 324 (9th Cir. 1993) (quotations omitted). Four stringent factors are considered before a court’s equitable jurisdiction is invoked: (1) whether the government displayed a callous disregard for the constitutional rights of the movant; (2) whether the movant has an individual interest in and need for the property he wants returned; (3) whether the movant would be irreparably injured by denying return of the property; and (4) whether the movant has an adequate remedy at law to redress his grievance. Id. at 324-325.
Perhaps realizing the daunting task of meeting the foregoing criteria, movants contend the Court need not concern itself with the exercise of equitable jurisdiction because constitutional implications under the fifth and sixth amendments distinguish their case. The sixth amendment right to counsel, however, attaches only when an adversarial proceeding is commenced. Brewer v. Williams, 430 U.S. 387, 398, 97 S.Ct. 1232, 51 L.Ed.2d 424 (1977). “[A] criminal defendant’s initial appearance before a judicial officer, where he learns the charge against him and his liberty is subject to restriction, marks the start of adversary judicial proceedings that trigger attachment of the Sixth Amendment.” Rothgery v. Gillespie County, 554 U.S. 191, 128 S.Ct. 2578, 171 L.Ed.2d 366 (2008). Such is not the case here: Chandler and Bobel have not been arrested, indicted or charged. Thus, their sixth amendment right to counsel has not attached.
In the absence of criminal charges, the sixth amendment simply is not in play — and movants’ fifth amendment rights must be evaluated in that light. Here, funds were seized pursuant to a court issued warrant; administrative forfeiture proceedings have been initiated, where movants may challenge the seizure; and, in the event criminal charges are filed, the issues raised here may be revisited there.
Under these circumstances, this Court properly may exercise jurisdiction and hear the matter only if the framework set out above under Rule 41(g) is met. It is not. The administrative forfeiture proceedings ini
While movants complain that the administrative process initiated by the government does not afford adequate process because of its relatively slow pace (compared to a potentially fast moving criminal investigation), the process accorded movants is adequate under the circumstances: a seizure pursuant to a court issued warrant, with an opportunity to challenge the seizure in pending administrative proceedings, all while movants remain uncharged. The fifth amendment requires no more.
III.
CONCLUSION
For these reasons, the motions are denied without prejudice.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
. United States v. Stein, 541 F.3d 130 (2d Cir. 2008), cited by movants, does not lead to a different result. While the court acknowledged in Stein that pre-indictment government conduct could affect a criminal defendant post-indictment, the court noted that sixth amendment rights do not attach until indictment. Id. at 153. Further, in that case, the government pressured an employer to limit attorney's fees paid to employees under investigation and to terminate such payments upon indictment. Thus, "the termination of fees upon indictment” deprived defendants of their sixth amendment right to counsel. Id. at 153. n. 13.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In re Return of Seized Property, Dean G. CHANDLER and Gary Bobel, Movants
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published