### F I LE D U. S . COURT OF AP PE ALS E LEVE NTH CI RCUI T Se pt e m be r 15, 2005 T HOM AS K. KAHN C L E RK [ P UB L I S H] I N THE UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT

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________________________ D . C . D ocketN o. 00 -000 65 -C R -H L M -4 UN I T E D S T AT E S OF AME R I C A, P l ai nt i ff -A pp el l ee , ve r s us GRAN GER HOW EL L, D e f e n d a n t- A p p e lla n t.

________________________ A pp ea l fr om the U ni t ed S t at es D i stri ctC ou rt f o rth e N o r th e r n D is tr ic t o f G e o r g ia

_________________________ ( S e p t e m b e r 15, 2005) B efo re B IR C H , C A RN E S an d F A Y , C i rcu i tJu d g es. F A Y , C i rc ui tJudg e:Con sp ira c y to P os se ss w ithIntent to D ist ributeand

Di stributio n o f C oc aine , 2 1 U .S. C. 1 §§ 846, 841(b)( 1)(A) (ii) (2005). 2 O n M a r c h 15, 2001, the de f e nda nt - appe l l a nt , G r a nge rH ow e l l , t e nde r e d a gui l ty pl e a t o one c ountof C ons pi r a c y t o D i s tr i but e C oc a i ne , a c l a s s A f e l ony , a nd

1 w as se nt ence d t o 1 80 m on ths i m pri sonm entand fi ve (5) y ea rs of supervi se d r e l e a s e . O n F e brua r y 9, 2004, the de f e nda ntf i l e d a F e d. R . C r i m . P . 41( g) m ot i on for r eturn o f $14 0, 00 0 sei ze d atthe t i m e of hi s a rr es tand for the re turn o f three fi re arm s s ei ze d d uri ng a c on se nt ed se ar ch of hi s r es i dence. T he di stri ctcourt deni ed re l i ef

, fi nd i ng thatH ow el l had n o p osse ss ory i nt er es ti n t he m on ey and t hat th e f i r e a r ms c o u l d n o tb e r e tu r n e d t o a c o n v i c t e d f e l o n . W e A f

f i r m.

I . F a c tua l B a c kgr ound O n T hu rs day, S ept em ber 27, 20 00 , defe nd ant , G ra ng erH ow el l w as arre st ed a ta m ot e l i n D a l t on, G e or gi a f orpos s e s s i on of

a c ontr ol l e d s ubs t a nc e . A c c or di ng t o t he fa ct s i n t he i nst antca se , ar ou nd A pri l or M ay of 20 00 , a c oo pera t i ng source ( he r e a f t e rr e f e rr e d t o a s “ C S - 1" ) be ga n t o pur c ha s e l a r ge qua nt i t i e s of c oc a i ne f

r om the defendant . O ver the course of these tra nsac t i on s, C S -1 m ade onl y par t i al pa y m e nt s f

orthe c oc a i ne . A tthe t i m e C S - 1 m a de the l a s tpur c ha s e i n S e pt e m be rof 2000, C S - 1 ow e d the de f e nda ntappr oxi m a t e l y $230, 000. T h e d e f e n d a n t a r r a n g e d a m e e tin g a t a m o te l in D a lto n , G e o g ia in o r d e rto3

col l ec tthi s debt . T hi s m ee t i ng t oo k p l ac e on S ept em ber 27, 20 00 , and w as a c c o m p lis h e d u n d e rth e s u p e r v is io n a n d c o n tr o l o f la w e n f o r c e m e n t a g e n ts . S h o r tly a f t e rC S - 1 a nd the de f

e nda nte nt e r e d the m ot e l r oom a nd di s c us s e d the arra ng em entfor r epay m ent , C S -1 show ed the defendantthe $1 40 , 00 0 o f O ff i ci al A dva nc e d F unds ( he r e a f t e rr e f e r r e d t o a s “ O A F . ” ) A tthi s t i m e , a ge nt s s t or m e d the r o o m a n d a r r e s te d th e d e f e n d a n t. S u b s e q u e n tly , th e d e f

e n d a n t w a iv e d h is M ir a n d a r ig h ts a n d a d m itte d h is drug tr a ns a c t i ons w i th C S - 1. T he s e tr a ns a c t i ons i nvol ve d m or e tha n thi r ty ( 30) ki l og ra m s of c ocai ne. S ho rt l y a ft erhi s a rr es t , the defendantconsent ed t o h ave l aw e n f o r c e me n to f

f i c e r s s e a r c h h i s r e s i d e n c e . Pu r s u a n tt o th e s e a r c h , th r e e f i r e a r ms w e r e s e i z e d: one ( 1) A M T 9 m m K ur z pi s t ol , s e r i a l num be rD 15458; one ( 1) . 44 S m i th a nd W e s s on r e vol ve r , s e r i a l num be rA E 42717; a nd one ( 1) . 45 G l oc k, m ode l 21pi s t ol , s e r i a l num be rA Y K 699. O n M a r c h 15, 2000, the de f e nda ntt e nde r e d a ne got i a t e d pl e a of gui l ty t o the abov e- m ent i on ed charges . C on t ai ned w i thi n t he pl eaagre em entw as a f orfe i ture prov i si on w here the defendantagre ed t o forfe i tce rt ai n ass et s. N on e of the l i st ed a s s e t s a r e s ubj e c tt o thi s appe a l . O n J une 21, 2001, the di s tr i c tc our ts e nt e nc e d the d e f e n d a n t.Included in the motion was the money , and fire arms desc ribed a bove and a

n additional 2 $2,370.00. With respe ct to this money the re cord shows that the defendant signed and a c kn ow le dg e d re c e ivingthi s amou nt o n September 2 8, 20 00 from S pe c ial A g e nt M ikeRotti, F e deral B ure a

u o f I nv e sti g atio ns . There fo rethi s is su eis m oo t. 4 O n F ebruary9, 20 04 , the defendantfi l ed a R ul e 41(g) m ot i on for the re turn o f th e s eize d p ro p er ty. O n M ay 2 4 , 2 0 0 4 , th e d istrict co u rt d en ied th e d ef en d an t’ s 2 m ot i on . T he di stri ctcourthel d t hatbeca use the coop er at i ng source used fund s that b el o n g ed t o th e g o v ern m en t , th e d efen d an th ad n o p ro p erty i n t eresti n th ese m o n i es. W i th resp ectt o th e fi rearm s, th e d i stri ctco u rtd en i ed th e req u estb ecau se the de f e nda nti s a c onvi c t e d f

e l on a nd r e turni ng f

i r e a r m s t o a c onvi c t e d f e l on w oul d be i n vi ol a t i on of 18 U . S . C § 922( g) . W e a gr e e w i th the f i ndi ngs of

the d i stri ctco u rtan d affi rm th e ru l i n g s.

II . S t andard of R evi ew W e r e vi e w que s t i ons of l a w de a l i ng w i th a di s tr i c tc our t ’ s de ni a l of a m ot i on f orr e tur n of

s e i z e d pr ope r ty , de novo. U ni t e d S t a t e s v. C a s tr o, 883 F . 2d 1018, 1019 ( 11th C i r . 1989) . F a c tua l F i ndi ngs a r e s ubj e c tt o a c l e a r l y e r r one ous s t a nda r d. P arker v. H ea d, 24 4 F . 3d 83 1, 83 6 (11 th C i r. 20 01 ).5 III. E q u i t ab l e T est I n c a s e s s u c h a s th is , c o u r ts s it in e q u ity . A m o tio n to r e tu r n s e iz e d p r o p e r ty u n d e rF e d .R .C r im .P . 4 1 ( g ) , is a m o tio n in e q u ity , in w h ic h c o u r ts w ill d e te r m in e a ll the equi t abl e c on si dera t i on s i n o rdert o m ake afa i r a nd j ustdeci si on . W hen an ow ner i nv ok es R ul e 41(g) aft erthe cl ose of a l l cr i m i nal proceedi ng s, the court tre at s the m ot i on for r eturn o f property a s aci vi l ac t i on i n equ i ty. S ee U ni t ed S t at es v. P ot e s R a m i r e z , 260 F . 3d 1310, 1314 ( 11th C i r . 2001) ; s e e a l s o U ni t e d S t a t e s v. M ar t i nez, 24 1 F . 3d 13 29 , 13 30 -31 (11 th C i r. 20 01 ) ( ho l di ng thata di stri ctcourthas equi t abl e j uri sdi ct i on ov era R ul e 41(e) m ot i on brou gh taf t eral l cr i m i nal p r o c e e d in g s a g a in s t a d e f e n d a n t h a v e e n d e d .) R u l e 4 1 (g ) p ro v i d es:

“ A pers on aggri eved by an un l aw ful se ar ch and sei zure of pr ope r ty orby the de pr i va t i on of pr ope r ty m ay m ove f orthe pr ope r ty ' s r e tur n. T he m ot i on m us t b e fi l e d i n the d i stri ctw h ere th e p ro p erty w as sei zed . T h e co u rtm u st rec e i ve e vi de nc e on a ny f a c tua l i s s ue ne c e s s a r y t o de c i de the m ot i on . If

i tgrant s the m ot i on , the c ou rtm ustre turn th e p r o p e rty to t h e m o v a n t, b u t m a y im p o s e r e a s o n a b le c o n d itio n s to p r o te c t a c c e s s to th e p r o p e r ty a n d its u s e in l at er p ro ceed i n g s. ” F ed. R . C ri m . P . 41 (g) ( 20 05 ). I n or de rf

ora n ow ne rof

pr ope r ty t o i nvoke R ul e 41( g) , he m us ts how tha the ha d a pos s e s s or y i nt e r e s ti n the pr ope r ty s e i z e d by the gove r nm e nt . U nde rthe unc ontr a di c t e d f

a c t s i n thi s m a tt e rthe r e i s no ba s i s f ora ny c l a i m by the de f

e nda nt6

of a ny pos s e s s or y i nt e r e s ti n the $140, 000 of O A F . T he f

unds a ti s s ue w e r e f

unds a l l oc a t e d s pe c i f

i c a l l y t o s e tthe s t a ge f

orthe a r r e s tof

the de f e nda ntf orpos s e s s i on a nd i nt e ntt o di s tr i but e a c ontr ol l e d s ubs t a nc e , a f e de r a l c r i m i na l of

f e ns e . A s f

orthe thr e e s e i z e d f

i r e a r m s , i ti s undi s put e d tha tthe de f e nda ntw a s the r e c or d ow ne rof a l l thr e e of

the s e f i r e a r m s ; how e ve r , r e tur ni ng f i r e a r m s t o a c onvi c t e d f e l on spec i fi ca l l y vi ol at es a f

eder al st atut e. F ur the r m or e , i n or de rf

ora di s tr i c tc our tt o gr a nta R ul e 41( g) m ot i on, the ow ne rof the pr ope r ty m us tha ve c l e a n ha nds . S e e G a udi os i v. M e l l on, 269 F . 2d 87 3, 88 1-82 (3d C i r. 19 59 )( st at i ng , no pri nci pl e i s bett erse tt l ed than t he m axi m that he w ho com es i nt o equ i ty m ustcom e w i th “ cl ea n h ands” a nd keep them cl ea n thr oughoutthe c our s e of the l i t i ga t i on, a nd tha ti f he vi ol a t e s thi s rul e , he m us tbe deni ed al l re l i ef

w hat everm ay have been the m er i t s of hi s c l ai m . ) T h e d o c tr in e o f

“u n c le a n h a n d s ” is a n e q u ita b le te s t th a t is u s e d b y c o u r ts in d e c id in g e q u ita b le f

a te . T h e d e f

e n d a n t in th e in s ta n t c a s e h a s c o m e in to c o u r t w ith e x tr e m e ly “u n c le a n h a n d s . ” O n e e n g a g e d in th is ty p e o f c r im in a l c o n d u c t is h a r d ly ent i t l ed t o equ i t abl e r el i ef . I V . $140, 000 of

O f f i c i a l A dva nc e d F unds T h e d e f e n d a n t r a is e s th r e e a r g u m e n ts a s to th e $ 1 4 0 ,0 0 0 o f O A F . W e f

in d a ll th r e e r e a s o n s to b e u n s u p p o r te d b y th e e v id e n c e a n d u n p e r s u a s iv e .7

F i r s t , the de f

e nda nta r gue s tha tthe gove r nm e ntf a i l e d t o not i f

y hi m of the s e i z ur e of

the $140, 000 w i thoutdue pr oc e s s of l a w . S e c ond, he a r gue s tha tthe gove r nm e ntf

a i l e d t o e na c tf

or f e i tur e pr oc e e di ngs f

orthe $140, 000. F i na l l y , the de f e nda nta r gue s tha tthe gove r nm e nts houl d notbe a l l ow e d t o uni l a t e r a l l y de c i de th a tth e mo n e y w h i c h w a s s e i z e d a tth e t i me o f th e a r r e s td i d n o tb e l o n g t o h i m. M e a ni ng, tha tthe c our ts y s t e m , notthe gove r nm e nt , s houl d de c i de i f the de f e nda nt ha d a pr ope r ty i nt e r e s ti n the $140, 000. i . D u e P ro cess T he de f e nda ntc l a i m s tha tthe gove r nm e ntvi ol a t e d hi s F i f th A m e ndm e nt C ons t i tut i ona l r i ghtw he n i tde pr i ve d hi m of the $140, 000 w i thoutdue pr oc e s s of la w . T h e d e f

e n d a n t r e lie s o n a U n ite d S ta te s S u p r e m e C o u r t c a s e th a t a ls o d e a lt w i th a R u l e 4 1 (g ) m o t i o n fo r retu rn o f p ro p erty. S ee D u sen b ery v . U n i t ed S t at es, 5 3 4 U .S . 1 6 1 , 1 6 7 , 1 2 2 S .C t. 6 9 4 , 1 5 1 L .E d .2 d 5 9 7 ( 2 0 0 2 ) . T h e f a lla c y in th is a r gum e nta nd the r e a s on D us e nbe r y ha s no appl i c a bi l i ty i s tha tH ow e l l ha s no ow ners hi p ri gh ti n t hese fund s. A si de fr om the fa ctthatthe m on ey w as bei ng used f ora c r i m i na l c ons pi r a c y , the gove r nm e nta ge nt s ha d t ot a l c ontr ol ove rthe act i v i t i es i n th e m o t el ro o m an d th e m o n ey w as n o th i n g m o re th an “ sh o w m o n ey” to c o r r o b o r a te th is c r im in a l c o n d u c t. T he $1 40 , 00 0 n everbel on ged t o t he defendantand h e never gai ned8

ow ne r s hi p orc ontr ol of the s e f unds . T hi s m one y w a s pr ovi de d by the gove r nm e nt t o arr es tthe defendant , re m ai ned i n con trol of the go vernm ent , and w as used un der the supervi si on of the go vernm entt o cat ch a drug d ea l er . i i . F a i l e d t o E na c tF or f

e i tur e P r oc e e di ngs T he de f e nda nta r gue s tha ti n or de rf ora gove r nm e ntt o l e ga l i z e a s e i z ur e , the go vernm entand i t s a genci es m ustadhere t o cer t ai n speci fi c m andat ory r equi si t es of the l aw i ncl ud i ng the gi vi ng of no t i ce t o t he ow ner a nd al l i nt er es t ed part i es . S ee U n i t ed S t at es v . W i l l i am s, 1 3 0 F ed . A p p x . 3 0 1 , 3 0 2 -0 3 (1 1 th C i r. 2 0 0 5 ); see al so 19 U . S . C . § 1 60 7; 21 C . F . R . 13 16 . 75 . T hi s a rgum entfa i l s f or the sa m e r ea son set fo rth ab o v e. H o w el l h ad n o o w n ersh i p i n t eresti n th e $ 1 4 0 , 0 0 0 “ sh o w m o n ey” p r o v id e d b y th e g o v e r n m e n t. iii. W h e th e rth e C o u r t o rth e G o v e r n m e n t D e c id e s O w n e r s h ip I n te r e s t? T he defendantra i se s the i ss ue of w hether the go vernm entor the court s houl d de c i de the f

a t e of the $140, 000 a f

t e rnot i c e a nd a he a r i ng. T he de f e nda nt ar gu es thatthe go vernm enti s nota di si nt er es t ed deci si on m akerw hen i tcom es do w n t o t he $1 40 , 00 0. A gai n, w e f i nd no m er i ti n t hi s a rgum ent . T he defendanthas fa i l ed t o rea l i ze thathi s ow ners hi p i nt er es ti n $ 14 0, 00 0 o f O A F i s ni l . T he m on ey b e lo n g e d to th e g o v e r n m e n t a t a ll tim e s th r o u g h o u t th e d ru g tr a n s a c tio n . T h e r e f o r e , the gove r nm e ntc oul d ha ve pr ope r l y t a ke n ba c k i t s O A F w i thoutnot i c e a nd a9

he a r i ng a ta ny t i m e . I nde e d, the gove r nm e ntne ve rga ve up e i the row ne r s hi p or co n tro l o f th ese fu n d s. V . P osse ss ory I nt er es ti n F i re arm s A cc ordi ng t o 1 8 U . S . C § 9 22 (g) T he i s s ue of

w he the ra c onvi c t e d f

e l on c a n s uc c e s s f

ul l y s e e k the r e tur n of fi re arm s i s one of fi rs ti m pres si on for our ci rc ui t . T he defendant ’ s f i re arm s w er e se i ze d aft erhe w as arre st ed on S ept em ber 27, 20 00 . O n M ay 24 , 20 04 , the di stri ct courtdeni ed the defendant ’ s 41(g) m ot i on for r eturn o f the fi re arm s, st at i ng that po ss es si on of the fi re arm s, ei ther a ctual or construct i ve, vi ol at e 18 U . S . C . § 9 22 (g). W e a gr e e w i th the di s tr i c tc our t ’ s rul i ng. 1 8 U .S .C . § 9 2 2 ( g ) p r o v id e s in p e r tin e n t p a r t:

“ I ts ha l l be unl a w f

ul f ora ny pe r s on . . . w ho ha s be e n c onvi c t e d i n a ny c our tof , a c r i m e puni s ha bl e by i m pr i s onm e ntf ora t e r m e xc e e di ng o n e ye ar ; . . . . t o shi p o r tra nspo rti n i nt er st at e or f orei gn com m er ce , o rp o s s e s s in o ra f

f e c tin g c o m m e r c e , a n y f i r e a r m o ra m m u n itio n ; o rto r e c e i ve a ny f

i r e a rm ora m m uni t i on w hi c h ha s be e n s hi ppe d or tr a n s p o r te d in in te r s ta te o rf o r e ig n c o m m e r c e .” 18 U . S . C . § 9 2 2 (g ) (2 0 05) ; s e e a l s o 18 U . S . C . § 922( d) ( 1) ( “ I ts ha l l be unl a w f ul f or a n y p erso n t o sel l o r o th erw i se d i sp o se o f an y fi rearm t o an y p erso n k n o w in g . . . th a t s u c h p e r s o n is u n d e rin d ic tm e n t f o r , o rh a s b e e n c o n v ic te d in a n y c o u r t o f , a cr i m e pun i shabl e by i m pri sonm entfor at erm exce edi ng on e y ea r. ”) Iti s und i sput ed thaton M ar ch 15 , 20 00 , the defendantent er ed a gui l ty pl ea f ora s e r i ous f

e de r a l f e l ony . O n J une 21, 2000, the de f e nda ntw a s s e nt e nc e d a ndAs noted above , Fe d.R.Crim.P . 41(e) , has been chang ed to 41(g). 3 10 be c a m e a c onvi c t e d f

e l on. C ons e que nt l y , the de f e nda ntpr ope r l y f

a l l s i nt o the cat eg o ry o f 1 8 U . S . C . § 9 2 2 (g ). T h e d efen d an targ u es th atev en th o u g h h e i s a c o n v ic te d f

e lo n h e r e ta in s a n o w n e r s h ip in te r e s t in th e th r e e f ir e a r m s . H e s u g g e s ts th a t h is p o s itio n is s u p p o r te d b y C o o p e rv . C ity o f G r e e n w o o d , 9 0 4 F .2 d 3 0 2 ( 5 th C i r . 1990) . I n C oope r , the de f e nda nt , a c onvi c t e d f

e l on, br oughtac i vi l a c t i on f or da m a ge s pur s ua ntt o 42 U . S . C . § 1983 f orthe s e i z ur e of

f i r e a r m s c onf

i s c a t e d by th e g o v e r n m e n t in r e la tio n to h is f e lo n - in - p o s s e s s io n c h a r g e s . T h e F if th C ir c u it C ou rtof A pp ea l s a gree d w i th t he defendantand h el d t hathe had a po ss es sory in te r e s t in th e f

ir e a r m s .

“ C on cl ud i ng that. . . fi re arm s a re no tcont rab an d p erse , w e hol d t hat C o o p e r ’s c la im e d o w n e r s h ip in te r e s t in th e f ir e a r m s s u r v iv e d h is c ri m i na l c onvi c t i on a nd c oul d notbe e xt i ngui s he d w i thouta c c or di ng hi m du e proces s. ” C oo per, 90 4 F . 2d at30 4 (foot no t e om i tt ed). H ow e ve r , C oope ri nvol ve s a n a c t i on br oughtunde r42 U . S . C . § 1983 f or d a m a g e s a n d d o e s n o t d e a l w ith a m o tio n f o rth e r e tu r n o f

p r o p e r ty u n d e rR u le 41( g) . A c t i ons unde r42 U . S . C . § 1983 a nd R ul e 41( g) a r e bi r ds of a di f f e r e nt fe ather. A c onvi c t e d f

e l on’ s 41( e ) m ot i on f

ore qui t a bl e r e l i e f

f orthe r e tur n of 311

f i r e a r m s ha s be e n a ddr e s s e d by ours i s t e rc i r c ui t . S e e U ni t e d S t a t e s v. F e l i c i , 208 F . 3d 667 ( 8th C i r . 2000) . I n F e l i c i , the de f e nda ntw a s c onvi c t e d of va r i ous m e tha m phe t a m i ne a nd f i r e a r m s - r e l a t e d f

e l ony of f e ns e s . D e f

e nda ntf i l e d a F ed. R . C ri m P . 41 (e ) m ot i on se eki ng the re turn o f c on fi sc at ed prop er ty w hi ch i nc l ude d f

i r e a r m s . T he E i ghtC i r c ui ta f f i r m e d the de ni a l of

the r e que s t , hol di ng:

“ R ul e 41(e) c om pel s adi stri ctcourt to af ford such persons an op po rtun i ty t o sub m i tev id en ce i n o rdert o d em on stra t e thatthey a re l a w f ul l y e nt i t l e d t o th e ch al l en g e d pr ope r ty . . . . W he n i ti s appa r e nt thatthe pers on se eki ng a r eturn o f the prop er ty i s notl aw ful l y e n ti t l ed t o o w n o r p o ss es s the prop er ty, the di stri ctcourtneed no tho l d an e vi de nt i a r y he a r i ng. F e de r a l l a w pr o h i b i t s c onvi c t e d f e l ons f r om po ss es si ng gu ns. B as ed up on [def endant s’ s] st atus as a c on vi ct ed f el o n, the di s tr i c tc our tc oul d pr ope r l y c onc l ude w i thoutr e c e i vi ng e v id e n c e th a t [ th e d e f

e n d a n t] is n o t e n title d to a r e tu r n o f f ir e a r m s .” F el i ci , 20 8 F . 3d at67 0 (i nt ernal ci t at i on s om i tt ed). T he E i gh th C i rc ui t ’ s rul i ng i n F el i ci cr ea t es pers uasi ve autho ri ty thati f a n i ndi vi dua l i s a c onvi c t e d f e l on, tha ti ndi vi dua l w i l l notbe e nt i t l e d t o the r e tur n of s e iz e d f ir e a r m s , e ith e rd ir e c tly o rin d ir e c tly . R e q u ir in g a c o u r t to r e tu r n f ir e a r m s to a c onvi c t e d f

e l on w oul d notonl y be i n vi ol a t i on of a f e de r a l l a w , butw oul d be c o n tr a r y t o th e p u b l i c p o l i c y b e h i n d th e l a w. T he fa ct s i n t he i nst antca se ar e a l m osti dent i ca l t o F el i ci . In bo th, conv i ct ed f e l ons f i l e d a 41( g) m ot i on a s ki ng f orthe r e tur n of

f i r e a r m s tha tw e r e s e i z e d dur i ng the i ra r r e s t . W e a gr e e w i th the c onc l us i on tha tt o do s o w oul d be a c l e a rvi ol a t i on12

of 18 U . S . C . § 9 22 (g). A l t ernat i vel y, the defendantar gu es thathe m ay l aw ful l y posse s the three s e i z e d f i r e a r m s c ons truc t i ve l y . A l though nota c tua l pos s e s s i on, the de f e nda nta s ks th is c o u r t to e ith e rp la c e th e f ir e a r m s in th e p o s s e s s io n o f a r e la tiv e in tru s t o rs e ll th e f irea rm s a n d d istrib u te th e p ro ce ed s to h im . E v en th o u g h th e d ef en d an t’ s r a t i ona l e i s i nt e r e s t i ng, i ti s be y ond the s c ope of R ul e 41( g) . W e a gr e e w i th the E i g h tC i rcu i ti n co n cl u d i n g th atan y fi rearm p o ssessi o n , actu al o r co n stru ct i v e, b y a c o n v i c t e d f

e l o n i s p r o h i b i t e d b y l a w. “ F e de r a l l a w pr ohi bi t s c onvi c t e d f e l ons f r om pos s e s s i ng guns . . . . [ T he defe nd ant ] i s a l so no tent i t l ed t o h ave the fi re arm s hel d i n t rustfor hi m by a thi rd pa r ty . S uc h a r e que s ts ugge s t s c ons truc t i ve pos s e s s i on. A ny f i r e a r m pos s e s s i on, a c tua l orc ons truc t i ve , by a c onvi c t e d f e l on i s pr ohi bi t e d by l a w . ” F e l i c i , 208 F . 3d a t670. T he fa ctthatthe defendantw as i n l aw ful po ss es si on and w as no ta c on vi ct ed fe l on w hen h e a cqui re d t he three fi re arm s i s i rr el evant . 18 U . S . C . § 9 22 (g) w as s pe c i f i c a l l y de s i gne d t o s e r ve publ i c pol i c y a nd pr e ve ntc onvi c t e d f e l ons f r om havi ng ei ther c on struct i ve or actual po ss es si on of fi re arm s. T hi s s t atut e w as de s i gne d t o w or k r e tr oa c t i ve l y , a nd onc e a n i ndi vi dua l be c om e s a f e l on, he w i l l be i n v i o l a t i o n o f

1 8 U . S. C. § 9 2 2 i f

f o u n d t o b e i n p o s s e s s i o n o f a f i r e a r m.We express no opinion on whether or not How ell may file an action under 42 U .S.C. § 4 19 83 fo r t hevalueof

thefire arm s. 13 O b v i o u s l y , th e c o u r t s c a n n o tp a r t i c i p a t e i n a c r i mi n a l o f f e n s e b y r e tu r n i n g f

i r e a r ms t o a c onvi c t e d f

e l on. 4 V I . C onc l us i on In order for one t o rec ei ve re l i ef un der F ed. R . C ri m . P . 41 (g), the i nd i vi du al m us tha ve a n ow ne r s hi p r i ghtt o the pr ope r ty i n que s t i on. F ur the r m or e , a c c or di ng to s o u n d e q u ita b le p r in c ip le s , th e m o v a n t m u s t c o m e in to th e tr a n s a c tio n w ith

“ c l e a n ha nds . ” T he de f

e nda nti n thi s c a s e ha s no ow ne r s hi p i nt e r e s ti n the $140, 000 a nd ha s “ unc l e a n ha nds . ” I n a ddi t i on, R ul e 41( g) de a l s s ol e l y w i th the r e tur n of pr ope r ty a nd 18 U . S . C . § 922 pr ohi bi t s the r e tur n of f i r e a r m s t o a c onvi c t e d f

e l on. AF F I RME D.