Joseph v. Libretti, Jr., Plaintiff-appellant, v. Daniel Dwyer, in His Individual and Official Capacity;bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Agentsjohn Doe in Their Individual Andofficial Capacities,defendants-appellees, 37 F.3d 1509 (10th Cir. 1994)

Before LOGAN and BARRETT, Circuit Judges, and RUSSELL,^**  District Judge.

ORDER AND JUDGMENT¹ 

After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a); 10th Cir. R. 34.1.9. The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.

Plaintiff Joseph V. Libretti, Jr. appeals from an order dismissing his complaint and granting judgment for defendants on the basis of res judicata and collateral estoppel. We affirm.

On October 5, 1992, plaintiff pleaded guilty in the Wyoming district court of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise (CCE) in violation of 21 U.S.C. 848. The plea agreement provided for forfeiture of plaintiff's property, including firearms. After accepting the plea agreement, the Wyoming district court ordered forfeiture of all of plaintiff's property, including firearms and firearms accessories.

Subsequently, plaintiff commenced this action seeking either the return or the retail value of the firearms and firearms accessories allegedly wrongfully seized by defendants during two searches of his Lakewood, Colorado residence and business in January and February 1991. Plaintiff alleged that the searches were in violation of his Second, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights.

Because of the preclusive effect of the criminal conviction, the district court held " [a]s a matter of law, the final criminal order of forfeiture ... is res judicata of the issues raised in this action and the plaintiff is collaterally estopped to relitigate any issue in this case." I R. tab 25 at 1. The court denied plaintiff's motion for reconsideration and plaintiff appealed.

In an opinion filed today in United States v. Libretti, No. 93-8000, we have affirmed the Wyoming district court's order of forfeiture. Thus, the items plaintiff seeks to have returned have been forfeited.

Accordingly, after considering the briefs and record on appeal, we affirm the district court's judgment.

AFFIRMED. The mandate shall issue forthwith.