Court Opinion

ID: 153499
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-08-14 03:38:44+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:29:18.267227
License: Public Domain

89 F.3d 851
NOTICE:  Although citation of unpublished opinions remains unfavored, unpublished opinions may now be cited if the opinion has persuasive value on a material issue, and a copy is attached to the citing document or, if cited in oral argument, copies are furnished to the Court and all parties.  See General Order of November 29, 1993, suspending 10th Cir. Rule 36.3 until December 31, 1995, or further order.
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,v.Jorge Carlos RODRIQUEZ, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 96-1020.
United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.
June 10, 1996.

Before BALDOCK, BRORBY, and EBEL, Circuit Judges.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT*
BALDOCK, Circuit Judge.

1
Defendant Jorge Carlos Rodriquez appeals the district court's order deferring ruling on his Motion to Bar Prosecution on Double Jeopardy grounds.   We exercise jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and the collateral order exception to the final-judgment rule, Abney v. United States, 431 U.S. 651 (1977), and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

I.

2
In July 1992, a grand jury indicted Defendant and co-defendant Osmay Perez-Herrera for federal cocaine offenses.   In April 1993, the government administratively forfeited approximately $1 million in Florida properties, as well as various personal property owned by Defendant.   It is not clear from the record whether the government notified Defendant of the forfeiture proceedings.   Defendant apparently did not file a claim of ownership or contest the forfeiture proceedings.

3
In July 1994, the grand jury returned a superseding indictment, charging Defendant with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and to distribute cocaine, 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A), 846, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A).

4
In October 1995, Defendant filed a Motion to Bar Prosecution on Double Jeopardy grounds.   Defendant argued that the government was impermissibly subjecting him to multiple punishment for the same offenses, in violation of the Fifth Amendment Double Jeopardy Clause.   Defendant contended that the government first punished him for the underlying drug offenses by forfeiting the various properties, and sought to punish him a second time for the same offenses through criminal prosecution.   Defendant requested the court bar prosecution and dismiss the indictment.

5
On January 2, 1996, the district court entered an order deferring ruling on Defendant's Motion to Bar Prosecution until after the criminal trial.   The court determined the motion was premature, stating:

6
that because the only aspect of the double jeopardy clause involved in this case is double punishment and because the trial of the case does not involve punishment and the issue of punishment only arises after there are verdicts or findings of guilty on counts which may relate to the bases for civil forfeiture, the motions are premature and should be reserved for determination prior to sentencing.

7
This appeal followed.

II.

8
The parties dispute our jurisdiction over the instant interlocutory appeal.   We adopt our analysis set forth in part II.A of the companion appeal of United States v. PerezHerrera, No. 96-1023, --- F.3d ---- (10th Cir.)  (slip op.), and conclude 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and the collateral order exception to the final-judgment rule, Abney v. United States, 431 U.S. 651 (1977), empower us to review the district court's order.   We adopt our analysis in part II.B of Perez-Herrera and conclude the district court should have ruled on Defendant's Motion to Bar Prosecution.   We REMAND to the district court with instructions to conduct further proceedings consistent with this opinion and rule on Defendant's Motion to Bar Prosecution.

9
REMANDED for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

*
 This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel.   The court generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments;  nevertheless, an order and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir.  R. 36.3