Kardoh v. United States

CLIFTON, Circuit Judge:

Abdul Masih Kardoh, a Syrian national, obtained four alien registration cards bearing names of persons not entitled to enter the United States from an undercover agent posing as a corrupt immigration official, to whom Kardoh paid $40,000 in exchange. A few minutes after the transaction, Kardoh was arrested, still carrying the four cards. The government did not prosecute Kardoh, but he was deported two months later. Kardoh then sought to recover the $40,000. After the government declined to return the money voluntarily, Kardoh filed a motion for return of property under…