Bullock v. United States

176 F. Supp. 3d 517, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 44019, 2016 WL 1293578
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. North Carolina
DecidedMarch 31, 2016
Docket1:15cv183
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 176 F. Supp. 3d 517 (Bullock v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. North Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bullock v. United States, 176 F. Supp. 3d 517, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 44019, 2016 WL 1293578 (M.D.N.C. 2016).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

THOMAS D. SCHROEDER, District Judge.

Seeking the return of certain property, Reginald Earl Bullock brings this action against the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) and the United States of America (collectively, the “Government”) pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 41(g). Before the court is the Government’s motion to dismiss, or alternatively, for summary judgment. (Doc. 7.)1 For the reasons set forth below, the Government’s motion will be treated as a motion for summary judgment and will be granted.

I. BACKGROUND

The facts of the case, viewed in the light most favorable to Bullock as the nonmov-ing party, are as follows:

On August 18, 2013, officers with the High Point Police Department (“HPPD”) conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Bullock. (Doc. 16-6 at 2.) The officers searched the car, which belonged to one of Bullock’s relatives, and discovered a crack pipe and a sawed-off shotgun.2 (See Doc. 19 in case No. I:13cr408 at 5, 8-9.)3 As a result, the officers arrested Bullock. (See Doc. 16-6 at 2.) The officers also seized $6,470 in United States currency (“the Currency”), as well as “[sjeveral items of personal property” from the trunk. and $196 in “loose change” from the interior console (collectively, “the Other Property”). (Id.; Doc. 2 at 3.)4

[520]*520Upon his release from State custody, Bullock contacted the HPPD regarding the seized property. (Doc. 16-6 at 2.) Police officials told Bullock that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (“ATF”) had possession of his property. (Id.) The ATF, in turn, directed Bullock to the United States Attorney’s Office in Greensboro, North Carolina, which redirected him to the DEA office in' Virginia. (Id.)5 Upon contacting the DEA, Bullock “was informed that the DEA was in fact in possession of [his] property, and [he] was instructed to submit the proper paperwork to determine if [his] property would be returned.” (Id.)

On August 29, 2013, the DEA adopted the currency for forfeiture. (Doc. 8-1 at 2, 20.) On September 10, 2013, the DEA mailed Bullock a form titled “Personal Notice of Seizure” regarding the impending forfeiture (the “Notice -Form”). (Id. at 2-3, 20.) The Notice Form was addressed to Bullock at his residence in High Point, North Carolina (the “Residence”) and sent via certified mail, return receipt requested. (Id. at 2-3, 9, 20.) It was delivered on September 27, 2013, and signed for by David M. Thompson, (id.), who gave the Notice Form to Bullock (see Doc. 16-6 at 2-3).6 Enclosed, with the Notice Form was “a Petition for Mitigation of Forfeiture packet” (the “Petition Form”). (Doc. 16-6 at 2.)7

The Notice Form informed Bullock about the DEA’s forfeiture proceeding and his corresponding rights. (See Doc. 8-1 at 20.) After identifying the property in question, it stated, “You may petition the DEA for return of the property or your interest in the property (remission or mitigation) and/or you may contest the seizure and forfeiture of the property in Federal court. You should review the following procedures very carefully.” (Id. (emphasis in original).) The Notice Form then contains a section detailing the procedure for requesting remission or mitigation of the forfeiture. (See id.) This section explained, “If you want to request the remission (pardon) or mitigation of the forfeiture, you must file a petition for remission or mitigation with the Forfeiture Counsel of the DEA within thirty (30) days of your receipt of this notice.” (Id. (emphasis in original).) The Notice Form then contains a separate section entitled “TO CONTEST THE FORFEITURE,” which provides:

In addition to, or in lieu of petitioning for remission or mitigation, you may contest the forfeiture of the seized property in UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT. To do so, you must file a claim with the Forfeiture Counsel of the DEA by October 15, 2013. The claim need not be made in any particular form (Title 18, U.S.C., Section 983(a)(2)(D)).

(Id. (emphasis in original).) Finally, the Notice Form stated that any claim, petition, or other correspondence would. be deemed filed “when received by the DEA” at either of two addresses listed on the Notice Form. (Id.)8

[521]*521On October 15, 2013, Bullock mailed the Notice Form and a completed Petition Form to the DEA at one of the listed addresses. (Doc. 8-1 at 4, 20-22.) The DEA received Bullock’s mailing on October 16, 2013. (Id. at 4, 22.) On October 23, 2013, the DEA acknowledged receipt of the Petition through a letter sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to Bullock at the Residence. (Id. at 4, 23-25.) On October 26, 2013, this letter was delivered to the Residence, where an unknown individual signed for it. (Id. at 4, 25.)9 On December 17, 2013, the DEA forfeited the Currency and denied the Petition. (Id. at 5, 28-33.) Thereafter, the DEA sent, via certified mail, return receipt requested, letters to Bullock at the Residence informing him that his petition had been denied and of his right to request reconsideration of that decision. (Id.)10 Bullock denies receiving any of these DEA mailings. (Doc. 11 at 5.)

That may be because on October 28, 2013, Bullock was indicted on federal firearm charges, leading to his arrest by federal authorities on November 14, 2013. (Docs. 1, 6 in case No. I:13cr408.)11 On January 9, 2014, Bullock pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1), 924(a)(2). (See Doc. 1 in case No. I:13cr408; Minute Entry Dated Jan. 9, 2014 in case No. I:13cr408.) At Bullock’s subsequent sentencing hearing, the court and parties discussed the money seized during the traffic stop. (Doc. 19 in case No. I:13cr408 at 4-7, 15-16, 18-20.) At the end of this hearing, Bullock requested that the court order the return of his seized money. (Id. at 18.) After hearing from the Assistant United States Attorney (“AUSA”) and defense counsel on the court’s authority regarding Bullock’s request, the court concluded,

[I]f there is a separate proceeding, civil forfeiture proceeding or otherwise, with respect to the money, then my order would be that to the extent not otherwise subject to some other collateral proceeding, the money should be returned.
What that essentially means is if there is another proceeding, then you need to pursue that proceeding. I can’t collaterally attack that at this time. I would only enter an order that would be subject to whatever the outcome is in that proceeding.

(Id. at 19-20.) Accordingly, the court ordered, “To the extent not otherwise subject to some other collateral proceeding, the money seized should be returned.” (Doc. 14 in case No. I:13cr408 at 6.)

Following Bullock’s sentencing, the AUSA and defense counsel communicated regarding the seized property.

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Bluebook (online)
176 F. Supp. 3d 517, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 44019, 2016 WL 1293578, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bullock-v-united-states-ncmd-2016.