9.3—Petitions in administrative forfeiture cases.

(a) Notice of seizure. The notice of seizure and intent to forfeit the property shall advise any persons who may have a present ownership interest in the property to submit their petitions for remission or mitigation within thirty (30) days of the date they receive the notice in order to facilitate processing. Petitions shall be considered any time after notice until the forfeited property is placed into official use, sold, or otherwise disposed of according to law, except in cases involving petitions to restore the proceeds from the sale of forfeited property. A notice of seizure shall include the title of the seizing agency, the Ruling Official, the mailing and street address of the official to whom petitions should be sent, and an asset identifier number.

(b) Persons who may file. A petition for remission or mitigation must be filed by a petitioner as defined in § 9.2(o) or as prescribed in §§ 9.9(g) and (h).

(i) The name, address, and social security or other taxpayer identification number of the person claiming an interest in the seized property who is seeking remission or mitigation;

(ii) The name of the seizing agency, the asset identifier number, and the date and place of seizure;

(iii) A complete description of the property, including make, model, and serial numbers, if any; and

(iv) A description of the petitioner's interest in the property as owner, lienholder, or otherwise, supported by original or certified bills of sale, contracts, deeds, mortgages, or other documentary evidence.

(2) Any factual recitation or documentation of any type in a petition must be supported by a sworn affidavit.

(d) Releases. In addition to the contents of the petition for remission or mitigation set forth in paragraph (c) of this section, upon request, the petitioner shall also furnish the agency with an instrument executed by the titled or registered owner and any other known claimant of an interest in the property releasing interest in such property.

(e) Filing petition with agency. (1) A petition for remission or mitigation subject to administrative forfeiture shall be addressed to the appropriate federal agency as follows:

(i) Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of Chief Counsel, Street Address: 700 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA 22202

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 28356, Washington, D.C. 20038.

(ii) Federal Bureau of Investigation, Special Agent in Charge, Field Office that seized the property.

(iii) Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Special Agent in Charge, Asset Forfeiture and Seized Property Branch, 650 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20226.

(iv) Immigration and Naturalization Service District Director, Chief Patrol Agent, or Regional Asset Forfeiture Office at location with jurisdiction over the forfeiture proceeding.

(2) The petition is to be sent to the official address provided in the notice of seizure and shall be sworn to by the petitioner or by the petitioner's attorney upon information and belief, supported by the client's sworn notice of representation pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1746, as set out in § 9.9(g). The Chief of the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section is delegated authority to amend the address of the official to whom petitions may be sent from time to time, as necessary, by publishing notice of the change of address in the Federal Register. Failure to publish a notice of change of address in the Federal Register shall not alter the authority of the Ruling Official to determine petitions for remission or mitigation nor the obligation of a petitioner to file a petition at the address provided in the notice of seizure. Failure to publish a notice of change of address in the Federal Register shall not be grounds for expanding the time for filing a petition for remission or mitigation under the regulations in this part.

(f) Agency investigation. Upon receipt of a petition, the seizing agency shall investigate the merits of the petition and prepare a written report containing the results of that investigation. This report shall be submitted to the Ruling Official for review and consideration.

(g) Ruling. Upon receipt of the petition and the agency report, the Ruling Official for the seizing agency shall review the petition and the report, and shall rule on the merits of the petition. No hearing shall be held.

(h) Petitions granted. If the Ruling Official grants a remission or mitigation of the forfeiture, a copy of the decision shall be mailed to the petitioner or, if represented by an attorney, to the petitioner's attorney. A copy shall also be sent to the United States Marshals Service or other property custodian. The written decision shall include the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the remission or mitigation is granted and the procedures the petitioner must follow to obtain release of the property or the monetary interest therein.

(i) Petitions denied. If the Ruling Official denies a petition, a copy of the decision shall be mailed to the petitioner or, if represented by an attorney, to the petitioner's attorney of record. A copy of the decision shall also be sent to the United States Marshals Service or other property custodian. The decision shall specify the reason that the petition was denied. The decision shall advise the petitioner that a request for reconsideration of the denial of the petition may be submitted to the Ruling Official in accordance with paragraph (j) of this section.

(j) Request for reconsideration. (1) A request for reconsideration of the denial of the petition shall be considered if:

(i) It is postmarked or received by the office of the Ruling Official within ten (10) days from the receipt of the notice of denial of the petition by the petitioner; and

(ii) The request is based on information or evidence not previously considered that is material to the basis for the denial or presents a basis clearly demonstrating that the denial was erroneous.

(2) In no event shall a request for reconsideration be decided by the same Ruling Official who ruled on the original petition.

(3) Only one request for reconsideration of a denial of a petition shall be considered.

(k) Restoration of proceeds from sale. (1) A petition for restoration of the proceeds from the sale of forfeited property, or for the appraised value of forfeited property when the forfeited property has been retained by or delivered to a government agency for official use, may be submitted by an owner or leinholder in cases in which the petitioner:

(i) Did not know of the seizure prior to the entry of a declaration of forfeiture; and

(ii) Could not reasonably have known of the seizure prior to the entry of a declaration of forfeiture.

(2) Such a petition shall be submitted pursuant to paragraphs (b) through (e) of this section within ninety (90) days of the date the property is sold or otherwise disposed of.

Code of Federal Regulations

[Order No. 2064-96, 62 FR 316, Jan. 3, 1997, as amended by Order No. 2650-2003, 68 FR 4928, Jan. 31, 2003]

CFR

9.3—Petitions in administrative forfeiture cases.

Code of Federal Regulations