FILED

U.S. COURT OF APPEALS

ELEVENTH CIRCUIT

DECEMBER 13, 2005

THOMAS K. KAHN

CLERK

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT

________________________

No. 05-13195

Non-Argument Calendar

________________________

D. C. Docket No. 92-00314-CR-ODE-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 

Plaintiff-Appellee, 

versus 

INOCENTE CAPOTE, 

a.k.a. Tony Capote, 

a.k.a. Tony Brown, 

a.k.a. Anthony Brown, 

Defendant-Appellant. 

________________________

Appeal from the United States District Court

for the Northern District of Georgia

_________________________

(December 13, 2005)

Before CARNES, PRYOR and FAY, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:
 The money and jewelry were seized pursuant to a search warrant and, in addition to the 1

money and jewelry, the government seized 10 kilograms of cocaine, leading to an indictment for

possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. A jury convicted Capote, and he was

subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment. 

2

Inocente Capote, a federal prisoner proceeding pro se, appeals the district

court’s denial of his motion for return of property under Federal Rule of Criminal

Procedure 41(g), which was construed as a motion to set aside forfeiture under 18

U.S.C. § 983(e). On appeal he argues that (1) the district court erred by finding

that his motion was time-barred; (2) he was entitled to equitable tolling; and (3) the

application of § 983, enacted after the forfeiture proceedings in this case were

completed, violates the Ex Post Facto Clause of the Constitution. For the reasons

set forth more fully below, we affirm. 

On September 22, 2004, Capote filed a pro se motion for return of property

pursuant to Rule 41(e) (now Rule 41(g)). In it, Capote stated that, on September 7,

1990, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Drug Enforcement

Administration (DEA) seized $39,390 of U.S. currency and jewelry from him.1

Capote then argued that the government had violated his Fifth Amendment due

process rights because it failed to notify him that the afore-mentioned property

would be forfeited and, thus, deprived him an opportunity for a hearing. Included

with the motion was Capote’s personal affidavit describing various pieces of

jewelry seized by the FBI and DEA. 
 The government’s exhibits included (1) two sworn declarations by Debra Lemaster, a 2

paralegal specialist at FBI headquarters who had access to records relating to the forfeiture of the

currency and the jewelry; (2) copies of the letters, envelopes, and return receipts of notices

mailed to Capote; (3) copies of the publication printed in the AJC; and (4) the final declarations

of forfeiture. Also included was the sworn statement of Vickie Burge, an employee of the

USMS, who confirmed that Capote was in USMS custody from March 6 until September 3,

1992, and was transferred from Johnson County Jail in Fort Worth, Texas to a Federal

3

The government responded that the FBI had processed the jewelry and

money in question and initiated administrative forfeiture proceedings. In

connection with the money, in April 1992, the FBI mailed two notices to Capote,

one to his last known address, and another in care of the United States Marshals

Service (USMS) because, at that time, Capote was in USMS custody. With respect

to the jewelry, the FBI mailed three notices, one in May 1992 to Capote’s last

known address, one in May 1992 in care of the USMS in Fort Worth because

Capote was in its custody, and one in August 1992 in care of the Federal

Corrections Institution where Capote was incarcerated. The notices outlined the

procedure for contesting the administrative forfeiture. A notice of the seizures and

forfeitures was also published in the Atlanta Journal & Constitution, a newspaper

with general circulation. With respect to the currency, publication was made on

May 4, 11, and 18, 1992, and with respect to the jewelry, publication was made on

May 25, June 1, and June 8, 1992. After receiving no claims for the currency or

the jewelry, the FBI administratively forfeited the currency on July 27, 1992, and

the jewelry on November 16, 1992.2
Correctional Institute on July 27, 1992. 

4

The government first argued that the district court lacked jurisdiction to

entertain Capote’s motion under Rule 41(g) because the exclusive remedy

available to Capote was found at § 983(e). However, the government argued that

Capote’s motion was filed beyond the § 983(e)(3)’s five-year statute of limitations. 

The government argued in the alternative that even if 28 U.S.C. § 2401(a)’s sixyear statute of limitations applied to Capote’s motion, it was time-barred because it

was filed 14 years after the seizure and 12 years after the forfeiture. The

government further noted that, in October 1992, Capote filed a motion to suppress

all of the evidence seized from his apartment and, therefore, was aware of the

seizure of the currency and jewelry. Thus, the government argued that Capote’s

claim was barred by the doctrine of laches because he offered no excuse for his

delay in challenging the forfeiture.

In reply, Capote argued that the district court had equitable jurisdiction to

hear his motion for return of property and requested that his pro se pleadings be

liberally construed. He further alleged that, because his motion asserted a Fifth

Amendment violation, the court had jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1331. Next,

Capote argued that his claim did not accrue until a fellow inmate informed him that

any seizure of property had to be preceded by notice under the Fifth Amendment. 
5

Thus, he argued that his motion was not time-barred because he had never been

notified of the forfeiture, and, therefore, his claim did not accrue until he received

the government’s response and examined the exhibits submitted. Capote further

responded that his claim was not barred by laches because the government was

responsible for any delay as a result of its constitutionally deficient notice. Capote

argued that the record in this case failed to show when he received any mail while

in detention at Johnson County Jail and that the methods for mail delivery at both

Johnson County and the FCI in Fort Worth were sufficient. Finally, Capote argued

that he was entitled to equitable tolling because any delay in filing was due solely

to the government’s inadequate notice, and he had exercised diligence upon

learning that the government had violated his due process rights. 

The district court denied Capote’s motion, finding that Capote was not

entitled to relief under Rule 41(g) because his exclusive remedy for challenging the

forfeiture on grounds of improper notice was under § 983(e). The court then found

that Capote’s motion was time-barred under § 983(e)(3)’s five-year statute of

limitations because Capote filed his motion more than 12 years after the

government forfeited its final notice of forfeiture.

On appeal, Capote argues that the district court erred by applying the

five-year statute of limitations set forth in § 983(e)(3) when denying his motion as
6

time-barred. Instead, he argues that the six-year statute of limitations set forth in

§ 2401(a) applies, and because his cause of action accrued when he discovered or

had reason to discover that his property had been forfeited without sufficient

notice, his claim could not have accrued until after he had filed his motion and the

government had filed its response. Capote also argues that his motion was not

barred by laches because his delay in filing the motion was due to the

government’s insufficient notice. Capote also asserts he was entitled to equitable

tolling of the statute of limitations for the same reason.

We review a district court’s interpretation and application of a statute of

limitations de novo. See United States v. Cattrell, 252 F.3d 1193, 1198 (11th Cir.

2001) (reviewing applicability of the five-year statute of limitations in 19 U.S.C.

§ 1621 for civil forfeitures of proceeds traceable to narcotics activity under 21

U.S.C. § 881). We note at the outset that the district court construed Capote’s Rule

41(e) motion for a return of property as an § 983(e) motion to set aside a forfeiture,

thus triggering the five-year statute of limitations in § 983(e)(3). We decline to

address whether this was correct because even if the six-year statute of limitations

set forth in § 2401(a) applied, Capote’s motion would still be time barred.

Assuming without deciding that the district correctly construed Capote’s

motion as one to set aside the forfeitures, section 983(e), which took effect on
7

August 23, 2000, provides “the exclusive remedy for seeking to set aside a

declaration of forfeiture under a civil forfeiture statute.” 18 U.S.C. § 983(e)(5). A

motion to set aside a forfeiture under § 983(e) “may be filed not later than 5 years

after the date of final publication of notice of the seizure of the property.” 18

U.S.C. § 983(e)(3). Here, Capote filed his motion 12 years after the final notices

of publication of the seizure of both the currency and jewelry, and his motion,

therefore, was time-barred under § 983.

In the alternative, Capote argues that the forfeiture occurred in 1992, prior to

§ 983's passage, and, therefore, 28 U.S.C. § 2401(a)’s six-year “catch-all” statute

of limitations should apply. Assuming without deciding that Capote is correct,

§ 2401(a) provides that “every civil action commenced against the United States

shall be barred unless the complaint is filed within six years after the right of action

first accrues.” 28 U.S.C. § 2401(a). The core issue under § 2401(a) is when

Capote’s claim accrued. To date, this Court has not addressed the question of

when a claim accrues under § 2401(a). Capote urges this Court to apply the test set

forth by the Second Circuit in Polanco v. United States Drug Enforcement Admin.,

158 F.3d 647 (2d Cir. 1998), and the government has not objected to the use of this

test. 

The Second Circuit has held that a claim accrues under § 2401 when the
8

plaintiff “discovered or had reason to discover that his property had been forfeited

without sufficient notice.” Polanco, 158 F.3d at 654. In that case, the record did

not reflect whether or when the defendant had his property forfeited, but the

Second Circuit ruled that the defendant’s claim would have begun to accrue at the

earlier of two possible dates: (1) at the close of forfeiture proceedings, or (2) if no

forfeiture proceedings had begun, when the five-year statute of limitations for the

government to initiate forfeiture proceedings concluded. Id. As Capote’s suit was

filed more than 12 years after the forfeitures in this case had concluded, even

following the Polanco rule, his present motion would be untimely under § 2401(a).

Moreover, taking a broader stance than the Second Circuit, the Fourth

Circuit has held that a claimant’s cause of action for inadequate notice of forfeiture

accrues under § 2401 at the earlier of two dates: “when he first became aware that

the government had declared the [property] forfeited, or when an inquiry that he

could reasonably have been expected to make would have made him aware of the

forfeiture.” United States v. Minor, 228 F.3d 352, 359 (4th Cir. 2000); see also

United States v. Rodriguez-Aguirre, 264 F.3d 1195, 1214 (10th Cir. 2001) (holding

that a claimant’s cause of action accrues at the earlier of two dates: “(1) the date on

which the claimant discovered that the property was forfeited, or (2) the date on

which the claimant could reasonably be expected to have made an inquiry that
9

would have made him aware of the forfeiture.”). Capote argues he did not become

aware of the forfeiture until 2004. However, Capote could reasonably have

inquired about his property 12 years earlier, when he knew it had been seized, as

evidenced by his filing a motion to suppress on October 6, 1992. Therefore, even

applying the Fourth Circuit’s rule, his motion is time-barred. Accordingly, giving

Capote the full benefit of his argument that § 2401(a) applies, we still conclude

that Capote’s motion was time-barred. 

As to Capote’s equitable tolling argument, we have not, to date, applied the

equitable tolling doctrine to § 983 or § 2401(a) cases. However, we have held that,

absent Congressional intent to the contrary, principles of equitable tolling are read

into every federal statute of limitation. Cook v. Deltona Corp., 753 F.2d 1552,

1562 (1985). Assuming that § 983(e)(3)’s statute of limitations may be equitably

tolled, the doctrine of “equitable tolling” is an extraordinary remedy that we apply

“sparingly.” See, e.g., Drew v. Dep’t of Corrs., 297 F.3d 1278, 1286 (11th Cir.

2002) (noting that equitable tolling is available to toll the statute of limitations for

filing 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas petitions). “[I]t is ‘appropriate when a movant

untimely files because of extraordinary circumstances that are both beyond his

control and unavoidable even with diligence.’” Id. (citation omitted and emphasis

in original). The burden of establishing entitlement to this “extraordinary remedy”
10

is clearly with Capote. Id. 

While Capote argues that his failure to file an earlier motion was due to the

government’s negligence in failing to provide him notice, this argument is

meritless. Capote became aware of the forfeiture at the latest in October 1992,

when he filed a motion to suppress all evidence seized from his residence. Despite

that knowledge, Capote never filed a motion to have his property returned, but

instead waited more than 12 years to challenge the forfeiture, and, therefore, failed

to exercise any diligence. Accordingly, Capote was not entitled to equitable tolling

of either statute of limitations. 

Lastly, to the extent that Capote argues that the district court’s application of

§ 983(e)’s five-year statute of limitations caused an ex post facto violation, he did

not raise this challenge in the district court, and we will review only for plain error. 

United States v. Miranda, 197 F.3d 1357, 1358-59 (11th Cir. 1999). “An appellate

court may not correct an error the defendant failed to raise in the district court

unless there is: (1) error, (2) that is plain, and (3) that affects substantial rights.” 

United States v. Rodriguez, 398 F.3d 1291, 1298 (11th Cir.), cert. denied 125 S.Ct.

2935 (2005) (quotation and citation omitted). “If all three conditions are met, an

appellate court may then exercise its discretion to notice a forfeited error, but only

if (4) the error seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of
11

judicial proceedings.” Id. 

The Ex Post Facto Clause of the Constitution provides that “No Bill of

Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.” U.S. Const. Art. I § 9, cl. 3. “The

Ex Post Facto Clause operates not to protect an individual’s right to less

punishment, but rather as a means of assuring that an individual will receive fair

warning of criminal statutes and the punishments they carry.” United States v.

Bordon, 421 F.3d 1202, 1207 (11th Cir. 2005). “[I]n order to prevail on an ex post

facto claim, a defendant ‘must show both that the law he challenges operates

retroactively (that it applies to conduct completed before its enactment) and that it

raises the penalty from whatever the law provided when he acted.’” Id. Assuming

that § 983 applies retroactively to forfeitures occurring before the date of its

passage, nothing in § 983 operates to raise the penalty for a crime that Capote

committed. See also Dufresne v. Baer, 744 F.2d 1543, 1546 (11th Cir. 1984) (“[a]

law which is merely procedural and does not add to the quantum of punishment,

however, cannot violate the ex post facto clause even if it is applied

retrospectively.”). Thus, we conclude that there was no ex post facto violation in

this case.

Based on the foregoing discussion, we conclude that Capote’s motion was

time-barred under either § 983's five-year statute of limitations or § 2401(a)’s
12

six-year statute of limitations, and that application of § 983(e)(3) did not result in

an ex post facto violation. Accordingly, we conclude that the district court did not

commit any reversible error by denying Capote’s motion. We, therefore, affirm. 

AFFIRMED.