YOUNGSTOWN - The Poland lawyer who once owned the now-defunct California Palms Addiction Recovery Center in Austintown is demanding that the government turn over information that led to the seizure of more than $600,000 from the business's bank accounts.

Attorney Sebastian Rucci filed a response in U.S. District Court on Thursday to the government’s notice that it had returned the funds with interest 1,100 days after they were seized.

Rucci is now seeking the release of affidavits that were used to justify the October 2021 seizure.

The U.S. Attorney's Office had initially sought to keep the seized funds, claiming they were fraudulently collected through Medicaid. However, in September the office announced that it would dismiss its claim after consulting with investigating law enforcement agents.

Saying the return of the money doesn’t bring an end to the case, Rucci says the release of the seizure warrant affidavits is crucial to ensure due process rights.

Rucci claims the seizure forced the closure of the facility on Route 46, despite a willingness to continue operating for free. He alleges that the closing led to the deaths of several clients.

The seizure violated the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act by denying a pre-seizure hearing, according to Rucci.

Rucci believes the government was "duped" by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services that revoked California Palms’ license, writing in the response:

“Two working days after, OhioMHAS, the state agency that licenses treatment centers, issued its administrative order revoking the facility’s license within thirty days, a Federal Magistrate, on October 4, 2021, issued seizure warrants. The next day, agents seized the entirety of the company’s business and payroll accounts.”

Rucci argues the seizure warrants were based on outdated information and did not justify seizing all the facility's funds. In addition to seeking an order to release the seizure warrant affidavits, Rucci asks that the case be reopened if necessary.

No criminal charges were ever filed in connection with the investigation.

The U.S. Attorney has not filed an answer to Rucci’s response.