§ 1316.95 - Petition for expedited release of a conveyance in a judicial forfeiture action.

(a) Where a conveyance has been seized and is being forfeited in a judicial proceeding for a drug-related offense, the owner may petition the United States Attorney for an expedited release of the conveyance.

(b) The owner filing the petition for expedited release shall establish the following:

(1) The owner has a valid, good faith interest in the seized conveyance as owner or otherwise;

(2) The owner has statutory rights or defenses that would show to a substantial probability that the owner would prevail on the issue of forfeiture;

(3) The owner reasonably attempted to ascertain the use of the conveyance in a normal and customary manner; and

(4) The owner did not know or consent to the illegal use of the conveyance; or in the event that the owner knew or should have known of the illegal use, the owner did what reasonably could be expected to prevent the violation.

(c) A petition for expedited release must be filed in a timely manner in order to be considered by the United States Attorney. To be considered as filed in a timely manner, the petition must be received by the appropriate United States Attorney within 20 days from the date of the first publication of the notice of the action and arrest of the property, or within 30 days after filing of the claim, whichever occurs later. The petition must be executed and sworn to by the owner, and both the envelope and the request must be clearly marked “PETITION FOR EXPEDITED RELEASE.” Such petition shall be filed in triplicate and addressed to and filed with the United States Attorney prosecuting the conveyance for forfeiture with a copy to the seizing agency.

(d) The petition shall include the following:

(1) A complete description of the conveyance, including the identification number, and the date and place of seizure;

(2) The petitioner's interest in the conveyance, 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 expedited release of the seized conveyance.