U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, 2014

United States v. James Thornberg

United States v. James Thornberg
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit · Decided March 5, 2014 · Benton, Bowman, Per Curiam, Shepherd
557 F. App'x 604

United States v. James Thornberg

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

James Thornberg appeals the district court’s 1 denial of his motion for the return of property under Fed.R.Crim.P. 41(g). He argues that the district court improperly denied his Rule 41(g) motion seeking the return of his work samples and insurance documents because this material allegedly could not be derivative contraband when he had never used any of it as part of a crime.

Upon careful review, we conclude that the government established a legitimate reason to retain copies of Thornberg’s work samples and insurance documents because this material is derivative contraband. See Jackson v. United States, 526 F.3d 394, 396-97 (8th Cir. 2008) (after Rule 41(g) movant establishes lawful entitlement to property, government must then establish legitimate reason to retain property); cf. United States v. Fetid, 208 F.3d 667, 670-71 (8th Cir. 2000) (explaining derivative contraband).

We thus affirm under 8th Cir. R. 47B.

1

. The Honorable Charles B. Kornmann, United States District Judge for the District of South Dakota.

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