(A) After the seizure of property described in division (A) of section 2981.02 of the Revised Code and not sooner than three months after the property owner is deceased as described in division (A)(1)(a) of this section, not sooner than three months after the property owner has not claimed, or asserted any interest in, the property as described in division (A)(2) of this section, or not sooner than one year after division (A)(1)(b)(i) or (ii) of this section applies, the prosecutor of the political subdivision in which the property is located may commence a civil forfeiture action under this section by filing in the court of common pleas of the county in which the property is located a complaint requesting an order that forfeits the property to the state or a political subdivision. A complaint for civil forfeiture may only be filed under this division if the property was seized with probable cause that it was involved in the commission of a felony or a gambling offense or was directly or indirectly obtained through the commission of a felony or a gambling offense and either of the following applies:

1. (1) The property owner is unavailable to the court for one of the following reasons:

   1. (a) The property owner is deceased.

   2. (b) An indictment for a felony or a charge for a gambling offense has been filed against the property owner, a warrant was issued for the arrest of the property owner, and either of the following applies:

      1. (i) The property owner is outside the state and unable to be extradited or brought back to the state for prosecution for the felony or gambling offense.
      2. (ii) Reasonable efforts have been made by law enforcement authorities to locate and arrest the property owner, but the property owner has not been located.
2. (2) The property owner has not claimed the property subject to forfeiture or asserted any interest in the property at any time during or after its seizure, verbally or in writing, and all claims brought under division (A)(4) of section 2981.03 of the Revised Code have been denied.

(B)

1. (1) The filing of a complaint for civil forfeiture under division (A) of this section shall be consistent with division (F) of section 2981.03 of the Revised Code. The complaint shall state all of the following:

   1. (a) The facts that support the state's or political subdivision's allegations in the complaint;
   2. (b) The alleged felony or gambling offense that subjects the property to forfeiture under division (A) of section 2981.02 of the Revised Code.
2. (2) If the property owner is unavailable to the court because the property owner is deceased as provided in division (A)(1)(a) of this section, the complaint shall include a certified copy of the death certificate of the property owner.

(D)

1. (1) Subject to division (D)(7) of this section, the state may file a civil forfeiture action, in the form of a civil action, against any person who is alleged to have received, retained, possessed, or disposed of proceeds, in an amount exceeding fifteen thousand dollars, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the proceeds were allegedly derived from the commission of an offense subject to forfeiture proceedings in violation of section 2927.21 of the Revised Code. The complaint shall be filed in the court of common pleas of the county in which the proceeds were alleged to have been received, retained, possessed, or disposed of by the person. The complaint shall specify all of the following:

   1. (a) That the person against whom the complaint is filed is alleged to have received, retained, possessed, or disposed of proceeds, in an amount exceeding fifteen thousand dollars, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the proceeds were allegedly derived from the commission of an offense subject to forfeiture proceedings in violation of section 2927.21 of the Revised Code;
   2. (b) That the state has the right to recover the proceeds described in division (D)(1)(a) of this section;
   3. (c) The actual amount of the proceeds described in division (D)(1)(a) of this section.
2. (2) Subject to division (D)(7) of this section, a civil action filed under division (D)(1) of this section shall be stayed if a criminal complaint, indictment, or information is filed against the person who is alleged to have received, retained, possessed, or disposed of proceeds, in an amount exceeding fifteen thousand dollars, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the proceeds were derived from the commission of an offense subject to forfeiture proceedings in violation of section 2927.21 of the Revised Code.

3. (3) In a civil action filed under division (D)(1) of this section, the state has the burden to prove by clear and convincing evidence all of the following:

   1. (a) That the person received, retained, possessed, or disposed of the proceeds involved;
   2. (b) That the person knew or had reasonable cause to believe that the proceeds were derived from the alleged commission of an offense subject to forfeiture proceedings in violation of section 2927.21 of the Revised Code;
   3. (c) Subject to division (D)(7) of this section, the actual amount of the proceeds received, retained, possessed, or disposed of by the person that exceeds fifteen thousand dollars.
4. (4) Any statements made in a civil action under division (D)(1) of this section are inadmissible as evidence in a criminal action brought against the person involved for a violation of section 2927.21 of the Revised Code, except for purposes of impeachment.
5. (5) Subject to division (D)(7) of this section, a civil action under division (D)(1) of this section shall be commenced within two years after the latest date on which a person allegedly received, retained, possessed, or disposed of proceeds, in an amount exceeding fifteen thousand dollars, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the proceeds were allegedly derived from the commission of an offense subject to forfeiture proceedings in violation of section 2927.21 of the Revised Code.
6. (6) The court shall complete the trial of the civil action under division (D)(1) of this section within one year after the action is commenced unless the parties to the action mutually agree to extend the one-year period or the extension of that period is for good cause shown.
7. (7) The amount of fifteen thousand dollars specified in divisions (D)(1), (2), (3)(c), and (5) of this section shall be increased on the first day of the following January, starting on January 1, 2018, by the rate of inflation for the twelve-month period ending in September of the prior year according to the consumer price index or its successor index.

(J) As used in this section:

1. (1) "Gambling offense" has the same meaning as in section 2915.01 of the Revised Code;
2. (2) "Offense subject to forfeiture proceedings" has the same meaning as in section 2927.21 of the Revised Code.