United States v. $96,935.00 in United States Currency ( 2022 )

Appellate Case: 22-3074 Document: 010110750345 Date Filed: 10/07/2022 Page: 1
FILED
United States Court of Appeals
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS Tenth Circuit
FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT October 7, 2022
_________________________________
Christopher M. Wolpert
Clerk of Court
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff - Appellee,
v. No. 22-3074
(D.C. No. 6:17-CV-01230-EFM-JPO)
$96,935.00 IN UNITED STATES (D. Kan.)
CURRENCY, more or less,
Defendant.
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JONATHAN QUERISMA,
Movant - Appellant.
_________________________________
ORDER AND JUDGMENT*
_________________________________
Before HOLMES, Chief Judge, KELLY, and ROSSMAN, Circuit Judges.**
_________________________________
Movant-Appellant Jonathan Querisma, proceeding pro se, appeals from the
district court’s order denying his motion for reconsideration in a civil forfeiture
proceeding. In the forfeiture proceeding, the court entered default judgment and a
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines
of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for
its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
**
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist in the determination of
this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore
ordered submitted without oral argument.
Appellate Case: 22-3074 Document: 010110750345 Date Filed: 10/07/2022 Page: 2
final order of forfeiture of the defendant property on November 27, 2017. R. 28.
More than four years later (January 18, 2022), Mr. Querisma filed his motion for
reconsideration claiming that he was entitled to the property. He urged the district
court to set aside the default judgment and reopen the case. The district court
concluded Mr. Querisma lacked statutory standing to seek relief. See United States
v. $96,935.00 in U.S. Currency, No. 17-1230-EFM, 2022 WL 823087, at *3 (D. Kan.
Mar. 18, 2022). Our jurisdiction arises under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and we affirm.
On appeal, Mr. Querisma argues that the government lacks any proof that the
forfeited property was proceeds of controlled substance violations. He contends that
the stop of the vehicle in which the property was located was not supported by
evidence of a traffic violation. According to Mr. Querisma, he was not given an
opportunity to contest the forfeiture. Mr. Querisma does not challenge the district
court’s ruling on statutory standing (and has therefore waived the issue). See Burke
v. Regalado, 935 F.3d 960, 1014 (10th Cir. 2019). Even if he had, such a challenge
would be unavailing based on the record.
We review the question of statutory standing de novo. Niemi v. Lasshofer,
770 F.3d 1331, 1344 (10th Cir. 2014); see also Lexmark Int’l, Inc. v. Static Control
Components, Inc., 572 U.S. 118, 127–28, 128 n.4 (2014) (distinguishing between
statutory standing and subject-matter jurisdiction). A claimant must establish both
constitutional Article III standing and statutory standing. See United States v. U.S.
Currency, in the Amount of $103,387.27, 863 F.2d 555, 560 n.10 (7th Cir. 1988). To
establish statutory standing, a claimant must comply with Rule G of the
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Appellate Case: 22-3074 Document: 010110750345 Date Filed: 10/07/2022 Page: 3
Supplemental Rules. United States v. All Funds on Deposit with R.J. O’Brien &
Assocs., 783 F.3d 607, 618 (7th Cir. 2015). Under Rule G, a person who wishes to
assert an interest in the forfeited property must file a claim signed under penalty of
perjury that identifies the specific property claimed, the claimant, and the claimant’s
interest in the property, and is served on the appropriate government attorney. Fed.
R. Civ. P. Supp. R. G(5)(a)(i)(A–D). When notice is given by publication on an
official government forfeiture site, the claim must be filed within 60 days after the
first day of such publication. Fed. R. Civ. P. Supp. R. G(5)(a)(ii)(B).
Here, the government properly noticed Mr. Querisma through notice by
publication on an official government forfeiture website pursuant to Rule
G(4)(a)(iv)(C) as he was unknown to the government. R. 12. Mr. Querisma then
failed to file a timely Rule G(5) claim as his claim was filed over four years after the
first day of publication on the government’s forfeiture website — well beyond the
60-day limit. Furthermore, Mr. Querisma presented no statement signed under
penalty of perjury claiming ownership of the forfeited property. Given Mr.
Querisma’s failure to abide by the “procedural imperatives” of the Supplemental
Rules, he has failed to establish statutory standing. United States v. $148,840.00 in
U.S. Currency, 521 F.3d 1268, 1273 n.3 (10th Cir. 2008) (citing United States v.
$8,221,877.16 in U.S. Currency, 330 F.3d 141, 150 n.9 (3d Cir. 2003)).
AFFIRMED. We DENY Mr. Querisma’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis
because he has “failed to show the existence of a reasoned, nonfrivolous argument on
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the law and facts in support of the issues raised on appeal.” Rolland v. Primesource
Staffing, L.L.C., 497 F.3d 1077, 1079 (10th Cir. 2007).
Entered for the Court
Paul J. Kelly, Jr.
Circuit Judge
4