Hill v. United States
Hill v. United States
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Antoine Hill, a federal prisoner proceeding pro se, filed this “MOTION FOR RETURN OF SEIZED PROPERTY” (“Motion to Return Property”) (ECF No. 2) pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 41(g). By Memorandum Opinion and Order entered December 13, 2012, the Court granted in part and denied in part the United States’s Motion for Summary Judgment, dismissed Hill’s Motion to Return Property in part, and directed the Government to submit further briefing addressing constructive possession. (ECF No. 22-23.) The United States has filed its supplemental briefing. (ECF No. 24.) Hill filed his Reply. (ECF No. 28.) For the reasons stated below, Hill’s Motion to Return Property will be dismissed.
I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Richmond City Police targeted Hill during an investigation for drug trafficking. (Mot. Ret. Prop. 12.)
In the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond (“Circuit Court”), Hill waived service of a copy of the Information and Notice of Seizure, and “waive[d] any and all interest in said, $ 6867.00 in United States Currency) ] ... and agree[d] to the entry of the final Order of Forfeiture .... to the Court ex parte.” Stipulation and Agreement 2, Commonwealth v. $6867.00 United States Currency, et. al., No. 07F4391/BWS (Va.Cir.Ct. filed Aug. 10, 2007) (alterations to original). The Circuit Court entered a Final Order of Forfeiture for $6867.00 in United States currency, finding Hill used the property in connection with the illegal manufacture, sale, or distribution of controlled substances, or Hill furnished, or intended to furnish the property, in exchange for a controlled substance in violation of Section § 18.2-248 or 18.2-248.1 of the Virginia Code. Final Order of Forfeiture 2-3, Commonwealth v. $6867.00 United States Currency, et. al., No. 07F4391/BWS (Va.Cir.Ct. Nov. 27, 2007). The Circuit Court ordered the property forfeited to the Commonwealth. Id. at 3.
Based on the search of his residence, the United States indicted Hill on federal drug and firearm charges. Sealed Indictment 1-2, United States v. Hill, No. 3:07cr407 (E.D. Va. filed Oct. 16, 2007), ECF No. 3. The Indictment listed the following property as subject to forfeiture upon Hill’s conviction of the crimes charged in the Indictment: $6900.00 in United States currency, a KelTec 9mm semi-automatic pistol, and 9mm ammunition. Id.
Following a jury trial, this Court entered a conviction of Hill of possession with intent to distribute heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), and possession of a firearm/ammunition by a convicted felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). Judgment 1, United States v. Hill, No. 3:07cr407 (E.D.Va. Oct. 7, 2008), ECF No. 36. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 32.2, the Government moved for criminal forfeiture of the firearm and ammunition.
On October 26, 2010, Hill filed his Motion to Return Property, seeking the return of: (1) the $6,867.00 in United States currency; (2) documents and papers (“documents/papers”); (3) phones; and (4) jewelry. (Mot. Ret. Prop. 1-2.) He argues that the Government must return the property because “the government never formally instituted a forei-ture [sic] proceeding(s) in conformity with established United States Law____” (Reply Br. at 1-2, ECF No. 15.) By Memorandum Opinion and Order entered December 13, 2012, the Court dismissed the Motion to Return Property with respect to the currency and the jewelry.
II. THE GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE
The United States submitted the Declaration of Special Agent Spotswood of the ATF (Resp. Mot. Ret. Prop. Attach. (“Spotswood Deck”) 1) and the Declaration of Detective Todd Bevington of the City of Richmond Police Department. (Resp. Opp’n Mot. Summ. J. Attach. (“Bevington Deck”) 1.) Special Agent Spotswood swears that he “checked the ATF’s evidence inventory system and determined that the ATF does not
III. RELIEF PURSUANT TO FED. R. CRIM. P. 41(G)
Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 41(g) provides:
A person aggrieved by an unlawful search and seizure of property or by the deprivation of property may move for the property’s return. The motion must be filed in the district where the property was seized. The court must receive evidence on any factual issue necessary to decide the motion. If it grants the motion, the court must return the property to the mov-ant, but may impose reasonable conditions to protect access to the property and its use in later proceedings.
Fed.R.Crim.P. 41(g). The Court properly denies a motion for return of property if the defendant lacks entitlement to “lawful possession of the seized property, the property is contraband or subject to forfeiture or the government’s need for the property as evidence continues.’” United States v. Vanhorn, 296 F.3d 713, 719 (8th Cir. 2002) (quoting United States v. Mills, 991 F.2d 609, 612 (9th Cir. 1993)).
Additionally, appropriate circumstances exist for a Rule 41(g) motion only if the United States possesses the property. See United States v. Marshall, 338 F.3d 990, 995 (9th Cir. 2003); United States v. Solis, 108 F.3d 722, 723 (7th Cir. 1997). In “limited circumstances,” a defendant may use Rule 41(g) “as a vehicle to petition for the return of property seized by state authorities.” Clymore v. United States, 164 F.3d 569, 571 (10th Cir. 1999), superseded by statute, Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act of 2000, Pub.L. No. 106-185, § 2,114 Stat. 202, 208, as recognized in Kadonsky v. United States, 3 Fed. Appx. 898, 904 n. 6 (10th Cir. 2001).
Hill seeks return of documents/papers and cell phones, seized by the state pursuant to a state search warrant. Hill argues entitlement to the return of this property because the government never formally
Hill provides no argument that the United States constructively possesses the documents/papers and cell phones.
In Clymore, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit explained that the United States may be found to have constructive possession “where the property was considered evidence in the federal prosecution.” 164 F.3d at 571 (emphasis added) (citing cases). While Clymore seemingly suggests that the prior use of property in a federal prosecution may confer federal constructive possession of those items, a subsequent Tenth Circuit case clarified: “[A]s we said in Clymore, property seized and held by state law-enforcement officers is not in the constructive possession of the United States for Rule 41(g) purposes unless it is being held for potential use as evidence in a federal prosecution.” Copeman, 458 F.3d at 1072 (citing Clymore, 164 F.3d at 571; Solis, 108 F.3d at 723); see United States v. Brown, No. 04-CR-0158-SEH, 2007 WL 1087613, at *2 (N.D.Okla. Apr. 9, 2007) (citing Copeman for the proposition). Thus, “Copeman characterizes the Clymore holding as requiring a present potential for use as evidence in a federal prosecution.” United States v. Rhoiney, No. 02-40014-01-RDR, 2006 WL 3533095, at *2 (D.Kan. Dec. 7, 2006).
Here, Hill fails to demonstrate that the United States constructively possesses the documents/papers and cell phones. Hill’s criminal prosecution concluded in 2008. Because the RPD currently retains possession of the documents/papers and cell phones, these items are no longer being held “for potential use as evidence in a federal prosecution.” Copeman, 458 F.3d at 1072 (citations omitted); see United States v. Walker, No. 08-20152, 2009 WL 4508566, at *1-2 (D.Kan. Nov. 23, 2009) (finding claimant convicted in federal court failed to demonstrate personal property held by state police was constructively possessed by United States when property “is not being held for potential use as evidence”); Rhoiney, 2006 WL 3533095, at *2 (rejecting notion that United States has constructive possession of property after conclusion of criminal proceedings because property no longer “has potential use as evidence in a federal prosecution”).
Moreover, whether or not the United States may have constructively possessed the documents/papers, and cell phones while Hill’s criminal prosecution was ongoing, “the United States cannot return property that it does not actually possess.” Brown, 2007 WL 1087613, at *2 (citing Copeman, 458 F.3d at 1072); see United States v. White, 718 F.2d 260, 261 (8th Cir. 1983) (holding that “since the government does not possess White’s property, it cannot return his property” (citation omitted)).
Importantly, Hill also fails to establish that he has no state remedy to obtain the documents, papers, and cell phones. “When ‘state avenues of relief [are] open to [the movant], he cannot show an inadequate remedy at law.’ ” Copeman, 458 F.3d at 1073 (alterations in original). In addition to any state judicial remedy available to Hill to obtain his remaining property, Detective Bevington avers that pursuant to the RPD’s policy, Hill may obtain the two cellular phones and documents/papers, by appearing in person at the RPD’s property section and requesting the return of the items. (Bevington Decl. 1.)
IV. CONCLUSION
Given Hill’s failure to demonstrate that the United States possesses the papers, documents, and cell phones he seeks, the Rule 41(g) Motion will be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
The Clerk of the Court is directed to send a copy of this Memorandum Opinion to Hill and counsel for the United States.
An appropriate Order shall issue.
. Because Hill’s Motion to Return Property and attachments lack consistent numbering, the Court employs the numbers assigned to this document from the Court’s CM/ECF docketing system.
. In its Response, the United States notes that the $6900.00 listed in the indictment was the same $6867.00 seized by the Richmond Police. (Resp. Mot. Ret. Prop. 3, n.1.) Because Hill forfeited this currency to the Commonwealth pursuant to the Final Notice of Forfeiture, the United States moved for criminal forfeiture of only the firearm and ammunition.
. Because the United States never possessed the currency and jewelry, the Court lacked subject matter jurisdiction over the property, and the appropriate disposition is dismissal. See United States v. Downs, 22 Fed.Appx. 961, 962 (10th Cir. 2001).
. The cases cited herein predating 2002 address motions brought pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 41(e). The Advisory Committee reorganized Rule 41 in 2002, amended Rule 41(e), and recodified it as Rule 41(g). The Advisory Committee Notes described the changes as "stylistic only.” See Fed.R.Crim.P. 41, Advisory Committee Notes, 2002 Amendments.
. Clymore remains good authority for the above proposition set forth in this Memorandum Opinion. However, Congress significantly amended the civil forfeiture statute discussed in Clymore. See Kadonsky, 3 Fed.Appx. at 904 n. 6.
. Hill's only constructive possession argument pertains to the United States currency forfeited to the state. (Reply 4, ECF No. 15.)
. But see, e.g., United States v. Watson, No. 04-CR-182-TCK, 2011 WL 3241357, at *1-2 (N.D.Okla. July 28, 2011) (finding items seized by state officials which remained in state custody were constructively possessed by United States
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