Opinion
1:15CV102
02-03-2015
REGINALD EARL BULLOCK, Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Defendant(s).
ORDER AND RECOMMENDATION OF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Plaintiff, a federal prisoner, submitted a document entitled as an "Inquiry of Status" in which he seeks the return of certain seized properties. The Court treated the filing as a Motion for Return of Property pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 41(g). Such a motion filed after the completion of criminal proceedings is a civil action subject to the fee provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915. See United States v. Jones, 215 F.3d 467 (4th Cir. 2000). Venue for such a motion is proper in the district where the seizure occurred. See United States v. Garcia, 65 F.3d 17 (4th Cir. 1995). Plaintiff failed to submit either the $400.00 filing fee or an application to proceed in forma pauperis. In addition, Plaintiff's Motion is not on the required form. This Motion should, therefore, be dismissed without prejudice to Plaintiff submitting his action on the proper forms along with either the $400.00 filing fee or a completed application to proceed in forma pauperis. To assist Plaintiff, the Clerk will send Plaintiff the Motion for Return of Property forms, instructions and an application to proceed in forma pauperis.
In forma pauperis status is granted for the sole purpose of entering this Order and Recommendation.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that in forma pauperis status is granted for the sole purpose of entering this Order. The Clerk is instructed to send Plaintiff Motion for Return of Property forms, instructions, an application to proceed in forma pauperis, and a copy of pertinent parts of Fed. R. Civ. P. 8 (i.e. Sections (a) & (d)).
IT IS RECOMMENDED that this action be filed and dismissed sua sponte without prejudice to Plaintiff filing a civil complaint, on the proper Motion for Return of Property forms, which corrects the defects cited above.
This, the 3rd day of February, 2014.
/s/ L. Patrick Auld
L. Patrick Auld
United States Magistrate Judge