§ 1316.79 - Petitions for remission or mitigation of forfeiture.

(a) Any person interested in any property which has been seized, or forfeited either administratively or by court proceedings, may file a petition for remission or mitigation of the forfeiture. Such petition shall be filed in triplicate with the DEA Asset Forfeiture Section or Special Agent-in-Charge of the DEA or FBI, depending upon which agency seized the property, for the judicial district in which the proceeding for forfeiture is brought. It shall be addressed to the Director of the FBI or the Administrator of the DEA, depending upon which agency seized the property, if the property is subject to administrative forfeiture pursuant to § 1316.77, and addressed to the Attorney General if the property is subject to judicial forfeiture pursuant to § 1316.78. The petition must be executed and sworn to by the person alleging interest in the property.

(b) The petition shall include the following: (1) A complete description of the property, including motor and serial numbers, if any, and the date and place of seizure; (2) the petitioner's interest in the property, which shall be supported by bills of sale, contracts, mortgages, or other satisfactory documentary evidence; and, (3) the facts and circumstances, to be established by satisfactory proof, relied upon by the petitioner to justify remission or mitigation.

(c) Where the petition is for restoration of the proceeds of sale, or for value of the property placed in official use, it must be supported by satisfactory proof that the petitioner did not know of the seizure prior to the declaration of condemnation of forfeiture and was in such circumstances as prevented him from knowing of the same.