Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 98 Part 2.djvu/884

 98 STAT. 2044

PUBLIC LAW 98-473—OCT. 12, 1984

the validity of his alleged interest in the property. The hearing shall be held before the court alone, without a jury. "(3) The petition shall be signed by the petitioner under penalty of perjury and shall set forth the nature and extent of the petitioner's right, title, or interest in the property, the time and circumstances of the petitioner's acquisition of the right, title, or interest in the property, any additional facts supporting the petitioner's claim, and the relief sought. "(4) The hearing on the petition shall, to the extent practicable and consistent with the interests of justice, be held within thirty days of the filing of the petition. The court may consolidate the hearing on the petition with a hearing on any other petition filed by a person other than the defendant under this subsection. "(5) At the hearing, the petitioner may testify and present evidence and witnesses on his own behalf, and cross-examine witnesses who appear at the hearing. The United States may present evidence and witnesses in rebuttal and in defense of its claim to the property and cross-examine witnesses who appear at the hearing. In addition to testimony and evidence presented at the hearing, the court shall consider the relevant portions of the record of the criminal case which resulted in the order of forfeiture. "(6) If, after the hearing, the court determines that the petitioner has established by a preponderance of the evidence that— "(A) the petitioner has a legal right, title, or interest in the property, and such right, title, or interest renders the order of forfeiture invalid in whole or in part because the right, title, or interest was vested in the petitioner rather than the defendant or was superior to any right, title, or interest of the defendant at the time of the commission of the acts which gave rise to the forfeiture of the property under this section; or "(B) the petitioner is a bona fide purchaser for value of the right, title, or interest in the property and was at the time of purchase reasonably without cause to believe that the property was subject to forfeiture under this section; the court shall amend the order of forfeiture in accordance with its determination. "(7) Following the court's disposition of all petitions filed under this subsection, or if no such petitions are filed following the expiration of the period provided in paragraph (2) for the filing of such petitions, the United States shall have clear title to property that is the subject of the order of forfeiture and may warrant good title to any subsequent purchaser or transferee.". PART B

SEC. 303. Part D of title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (21 U.S.C. 841 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new sections 413 and 414: "CRIMINAL FORFEITURES "PROPERTY SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL FORFEITURE

Post, p. 2192, 2i^usc 853 21 USC 95l!

"SEC. 413. (a) Any person convicted of a violation of this title or ^^^^^ punishable by imprisonment for more than one year shall forfeit to the United States, irrespective of any provision of State law—

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