United States of America v. Johnson
Filing
12
OPINION and ORDER DENYING DEFENDANT'S 1 MOTION FOR RETURN OF PROPERTY. Signed by District Judge Bernard A. Friedman. (JCur)
Case 2:21-mc-50683-BAF-APP ECF No. 12, PageID.40 Filed 01/11/22 Page 1 of 6
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff,
Case No. 21-MC-50683
vs.
HON. BERNARD A. FRIEDMAN
HERBERT BERNARD JOHNSON,
Defendant.
_____________________________/
OPINION AND ORDER DENYING DEFENDANT’S
MOTION FOR RETURN OF PROPERTY
This matter is presently before the Court on defendant’s motion for return of property
pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 41(g). (ECF No. 1). The government has responded and defendant has
replied. Pursuant to E.D. Mich. LR 7.1(f)(1), the Court shall decide this motion without a hearing.
For the following reasons the Court shall deny the motion.
On March 27, 2018, this Court sentenced defendant to a 121-month prison term
following a jury trial in which defendant was found guilty on three counts: attempted coercion and
enticement of a minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b) (Count1); travel with intent to engage in
illicit sexual activity, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2423(b) (Count 2); and possession of child
pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(5)(B) and (b)(2) (Count 4). See United States
v. Johnson, 775 F. App’x 794, 796-97 (6th Cir. 2019).
The jury acquitted defendant of
transportation of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(1) (Count 3). See id. at
797. At the close of trial, defendant moved for a judgment of acquittal under Fed. R. Crim. P. 29,
which the Court denied. Id.
Defendant subsequently filed a timely appeal challenging the Court’s denial of his
Case 2:21-mc-50683-BAF-APP ECF No. 12, PageID.41 Filed 01/11/22 Page 2 of 6
motion for judgment of acquittal and claiming insufficient evidence as to all three of his convictions.
Id. The court of appeals affirmed this Court’s judgment of conviction as to all three counts. Id. at
799-800. Defendant then filed a motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to vacate, set aside, or correct his
sentence and a motion to amend his § 2255 motion. (No. 15-20577, ECF Nos. 109, 114) Together,
these motions raised twenty challenges to defendant’s three convictions. On December 29, 2020,
the Court denied his § 2255 motion and amended motion on both procedural and substantive
grounds. (No. 15-20577, ECF No. 120). On January 28, 2021, defendant filed a notice of appeal
of that decision, which remains pending before the Sixth Circuit. (No. 15-20577, ECF No. 122).
In the instant motion, defendant requests the return of $30 in cash, a black wallet, and
a cell phone, all of which were seized from him on September 9, 2015, the evening of his arrest.
(ECF No. 1, PageID.1; ECF No. 9, PageID.22). Defendant contends that “the government’s interest
in the property has ended” and that “[u]nder Rule 41, [a] district court has both the jurisdiction and
the duty to return . . . contested property once the government’s need for it has ended.” (ECF No.
1, PageID.2) (internal quotation marks omitted).
In response, the government states that “the cash and wallet [were] returned to
Johnson’s former defense attorney on May 4, 2016 . . . [a]nd the cell phone remains a piece of
evidence in this case.” (ECF No. 9, PageID.22). The government contends that Rule 41(g) “does
not provide a basis to require the government to return lawfully seized property while the matter is
still [in] litigation.” (Id., PageID.23). The government adds that the “FBI lawfully seized the cell
phone. The general rule is that a defendant may seek return of property at the end of the criminal
proceedings. Johnson himself has perpetuated the proceedings in this case by filing multiple postconviction motions.” (Id., PageID.23-24) (emphasis in original). The government states that it will
2
Case 2:21-mc-50683-BAF-APP ECF No. 12, PageID.42 Filed 01/11/22 Page 3 of 6
return defendant’s cell phone to his “designee at the conclusion of his criminal proceedings.” (Id.,
PageID.24).
In reply, defendant argues that his post-conviction challenges should not be
considered a continuation of his criminal proceedings and that those proceedings ended once the
judgment against him was made final. (ECF No. 11, PageID.30). Defendant contends that under
the government’s logic,
if in the future [he] filed a motion for compassionate release, a
motion for modification of conditions of supervised release, or such
ancillary litigation . . . they would all allow the government to
withhold property. And in a catch-22 situation, the Petitioner’s own
motion to return his property would trigger a right for the government
to withhold the property.
(Id.). Defendant adds that the government has failed to show that the property at issue is contraband
or that there is a “specific nexus between the property and a continuing criminal investigation.” (Id.,
PageID.31). Defendant argues that the continued retention of his property is therefore unreasonable.
(Id.). As to his cash and wallet, in particular, defendant contends that
whether [his] attorney, Mr. Niskar, has mishandled the property is of
no moment. Mr. Niskar was contracted by this Court and [was]
acting in a capacity as an officer of the Court, as an agent of the
government. To that end, the government is still responsible for the
return of [defendant’s] property.
(Id., PageID.32).
Fed. R. Crim. P. 41(g) states:
A person aggrieved by an unlawful search and seizure of property or
by the deprivation of property may move for the property’s return.
The motion must be filed in the district where the property was
seized. The court must receive evidence on any factual issue
necessary to decide the motion. If it grants the motion, the court must
return the property to the movant, but may impose reasonable
conditions to protect access to the property and its use in later
3
Case 2:21-mc-50683-BAF-APP ECF No. 12, PageID.43 Filed 01/11/22 Page 4 of 6
proceedings.
“The general rule is that seized property, other than contraband, should be returned to its rightful
owner once the criminal proceedings have terminated,” Savoy v. United States, 604 F.3d 929, 932
(6th Cir. 2010), or “once the government’s need for it has ended.” United States v. Bowker, 372
F.3d 365, 387 (6th Cir. 2004).
It is undisputed that defendant is the rightful owner of the property at issue.
However, the government has indicated that defendant’s cell phone continues to serve as evidence
in this case, as his § 2255 motion remains pending before the Sixth Circuit. As to the phone’s
connection to defendant’s three convictions, and his subsequent challenge of those convictions, the
government has stated that
[t]he day Johnson showed up at a park to pick up “Jason,” [(the
fictitious minor)] law enforcement arrested him. They seized his
Apple iPhone 6, IMEI 354403060405535. The agents called the
phone, using the same number that “Jason” used to communicate
with Johnson. The phone audibly rang. The next day, agents
obtained a federal search warrant to review the contents of the phone.
(ECF No. 9, PageID.23). Under Rule 41(g), “[w]hen the government has a continuing interest in
the property, the property does not have to be returned. The government can demonstrate a
continuing interest by showing that the property is contraband or necessary for an ongoing
investigation.” United States v. Popham, 382 F. Supp. 2d 942, 956 (E.D. Mich. 2005). See also
Fed. R. Crim. P. 41(g) advisory committee’s note to 1989 amendment (“If the United States has a
need for the property in an investigation or prosecution, its retention of the property is generally
reasonable.”). The government has made such a showing in this case.1
1
While in this case the Court concludes that the government has a continuing interest in
the property based on defendant’s pending § 2255 motion and motion to amend his § 2255
4
Case 2:21-mc-50683-BAF-APP ECF No. 12, PageID.44 Filed 01/11/22 Page 5 of 6
Finally, the government indicates that it returned defendant’s wallet and cash to his
former trial attorney on May 4, 2016. (ECF No. 9-1 (Receipt for Return of Prop.), PageID.27).
Defendant nonetheless states that he has yet to receive this property. He contends that because
defense counsel was Court-appointed, the government bears responsibility for returning the property
to defendant, regardless of whether it did, in fact, return the property to defense counsel in 2016.
The Court disagrees. Because the government states that the $30 in cash and wallet are no longer
in its possession, defendant must turn to his former attorney for their return. Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED that defendant’s motion for return of property as to his wallet and
$30 in cash is denied to the extent he seeks relief from the government.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that defendant’s motion for return of property as to his
cell phone is denied without prejudice. If the government does not return defendant’s cell phone
once his § 2255 motion has been conclusively resolved, he is free to seek relief under Rule 41(g)
at that time.
Dated: January 11, 2022
Detroit, Michigan
s/Bernard A. Friedman
BERNARD A. FRIEDMAN
SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
motion, the same conclusion would not necessarily apply to a motion for compassionate release,
motion for modification of conditions of supervised release, or motion for return of property, as
defendant argues. Unlike a § 2255 motion, such motions do not directly challenge a defendant’s
criminal conviction.
5
Case 2:21-mc-50683-BAF-APP ECF No. 12, PageID.45 Filed 01/11/22 Page 6 of 6
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
The undersigned certifies that a copy of the foregoing order was served upon each attorney or party of
record herein by electronic means or first class U.S. mail on January 11, 2022.
s/Johnetta M. Curry-Williams
Case Manager
Herbert Bernard Johnson, 51407-039
Federal Correctional Institution
9595 W. Quincy Ave.
Littleton, CO 80123
6
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?