Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/boundvolumes/529bv.pdf
Page Number: 1168.0

Date/Time: 08-17-01 13:26:35
Job: 529RUL

Unit: U3CR

Pagination Table: RULES1

1184

RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

(b) Entry of preliminary order of forfeiture; post verdict

hearing.

(1) As soon as practicable after entering a guilty ver-
dict or accepting a plea of guilty or nolo contendere on
any count in an indictment or information with regard
to which criminal forfeiture is sought, the court shall
determine what property is subject to forfeiture under
the applicable statute.
If forfeiture of speciﬁc property
is sought, the court shall determine whether the govern-
ment has established the requisite nexus between the
If the government seeks a
property and the offense.
personal money judgment against the defendant, the
court shall determine the amount of money that the de-
fendant will be ordered to pay. The court’s determina-
tion may be based on evidence already in the record,
including any written plea agreement or, if the forfeiture
is contested, on evidence or information presented by
the parties at a hearing after the verdict or ﬁnding of
guilt.

(2) If the court ﬁnds that property is subject to for-
feiture, it shall promptly enter a preliminary order of
forfeiture setting forth the amount of any money judg-
ment or directing the forfeiture of speciﬁc property
without regard to any third party’s interest in all or part
of it. Determining whether a third party has such an
interest shall be deferred until any third party ﬁles a
claim in an ancillary proceeding under Rule 32.2(c).

(3) The entry of a preliminary order of forfeiture au-
thorizes the Attorney General (or a designee) to seize
the speciﬁc property subject to forfeiture; to conduct
any discovery the court considers proper in identifying,
locating, or disposing of the property; and to commence
proceedings that comply with any statutes governing
third-party rights. At sentencing—or at any time be-
fore sentencing if the defendant consents—the order of
forfeiture becomes ﬁnal as to the defendant and shall be
made a part of the sentence and included in the judg-
ment. The court may include in the order of forfeiture