Opinion ID: 2771819
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The 2006 Forfeiture

Text: Landry argues that he did not receive timely notice of the 2006 administrative-forfeiture proceedings. 7 The Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act (CAFRA) 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). Under 6 In his original motion for return of the property, Landry alleges that APD seized the funds and “turned [them] over” to the DEA. 7 He also claims that the Government failed to prove that the funds were “drug proceeds.” However, the district court’s review is limited to whether “the forfeiture comported with constitutional due process guarantees.” Kadonsky v. United States, 216 F.3d 499, 506 (5th Cir. 2000). 5 Case: 14-50782 Document: 00512909633 Page: 6 Date Filed: 01/21/2015 No. 14-50782 CAFRA, personal notice must be sent within sixty days after the date of the seizure. Id. § 983(a)(1)(A)(i). 8 To initiate these proceedings, the Government must send personal notice to any person with an interest in the seized property and publish notice once a week for three successive weeks in a newspaper generally circulated in the judicial district where the property was seized. 19 U.S.C. § 1607(a)(4); 28 C.F.R. § 8.9(a)(1)(i), (b)(1). Any challenge to an administrative forfeiture must be filed within thirty-five days after the date the personal notice is mailed, or if personal notice is not received, then no later than thirty days after the date of final publication of notice of seizure. 19 U.S.C. § 983(a)(2)(B). It is uncontested that Landry did not file a claim within the appropriate time period. Here, Landry’s challenge to personal notice fails because he did not file suit within the statute of limitations. A motion to set aside the declaration of forfeiture must be filed no later than five years after the date of final publication of notice of seizure. 18 U.S.C. § 983(e)(1), (3). The date of final publication of notice of seizure of the property in The Wall Street Journal was September 11, 2006. Landry thus had until September 11, 2011, to challenge the personal notice of the forfeiture proceedings. He did not do so until September 27, 2013, when he filed this action. Thus Landry’s challenge to the 2006 forfeiture is statutorily barred.