United States of America v. 10730 Meadow Lane West, Irvington, AL

Filing 23

ORDER OF FORFEITURE granting 22 Motion for Entry of Order of Forfeiture as set out. Dft, 10730 Meadow Lane West, Irvington, Alabama, w/its buildings, appurtenances, improvements, etc., is to be forfeited to Plf USA for disposition as set out. The Clerk is directed to close this file for administrative statistical purposes as set out. Signed by Judge Callie V. S. Granade on 1/30/2013. (tot)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
SOUTHERN DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff,
vs.
One parcel of real property located
at 10730 Meadow Lane West,
Irvington, Alabama,
Defendant.

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CIVIL ACTION NO. 11-0608-CG-M

ORDER OF FORFEITURE
This matter is before the Court on plaintiff’s Motion for Entry of Order of
Forfeiture (Doc. 22). For cause shown, the Motion is GRANTED.
The defendant real property is specifically described as 10730 Meadow Lane
West, Irvington, Alabama, together with its buildings, appurtenances,
improvements, fixtures, attachments and easements that constitutes the residence,
curtilage and outlying property thereon, including any residence, or other building
thereon, located in Mobile County, Alabama within the Southern District of
Alabama. The deed to the defendant property places title in the name of Douglas
Ray and Lilly Gainell Ray, and is recorded in Deed Book 44, page 62, in the Office of
the Judge of Probate, Mobile County, Alabama, and with a legal description of:
Property Description # 1
Lot 1 of Ray Subdivision recorded in Real Property Book
44, Page 62, in the records of the Probate Court of
County, Alabama, excepting all easements and rights of way
of record.

On October 26, 2011, the plaintiff filed a Complaint for Forfeiture In Rem
against the defendant real property, to enforce the provisions of Title 21, U.S.C., §
881(a)(7). Title 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(7) subjects to civil forfeiture all real property,
including any right, title and interest therein and any appurtenances and
improvements thereon, which is used, or intended to be used, in any manner or
part, to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, a violation of the Controlled
Substances Act, which is punishable by more than one year’s imprisonment.
In United States v. Douglas Giles Ray, 10-00276-CG, Ray pled guilty to
Count One of an Indictment charging him with a violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 846,
which more specifically alleged that between in or about 2008, to and continuing
through on or about November 4, 2010, Ray and others conspired to possess with
intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana, a Schedule I Controlled
Substance, an offense punishable under the penalty provisions of 21 U.S.C. §
841(b)(1)(B). That Controlled Substance violation is punishable by a term of
imprisonment greater than one year, more specifically, with a term of imprisonment
not less than 5 years nor more than 40 years. In connection with Ray’s guilty plea,
he admitted facts which support that he used the defendant property to facilitate
the offense of conviction, including that the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office’s
discovered 54 pounds of marijuana in his and his wife’s residence on the defendant
property. Douglas Ray’s interest in the defendant property was forfeited to the
United States in the criminal case as the Court ordered the forfeiture as part of his
sentence. However, Lilly Ray was not charged criminally and her interest in the

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property was not forfeited.
Pursuant to Title 18, U.S.C., § 985 (c)(1)(B) and the Court’s Writ of Entry, the
Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations (“DHS/HSI”)
posted a copy of the complaint on the only residence located on the parcel on
January 25, 2012. Once DHS/HSI posted notice on the property no further action
was necessary for the court to have in rem jurisdiction over it. See 18 U.S.C., §
985(c)(3).
On January 25, 2012, the plaintiff personally served Lilly Gainell Ray with a
copy of the Complaint and Notice of Forfeiture Action in accordance with Title 18,
U.S.C., 985(c)(1)(C), at 10730 Meadow Lane West, Irvington, Alabama. Claimant
Lilly Ray filed a timely claim and answer.
Beginning on November 9, 2011, plaintiff published notice on an official
government internet forfeiture website at www.forfeiture.gov for 30 consecutive
days. Supplemental Rule G(4)(iv)(C) deems internet publication an alternative to
newspaper publication in civil forfeiture actions. Any putative claimants who
received notice by internet publication had to file a claim no later than 60 days after
the first date of publication on the official government forfeiture website (by
January 9, 2012). See Supplemental Rule G(5)(ii)(B). No putative claimant who
received notice by internet publication has filed a timely claim, motion or answer
and the deadline to do so has expired. Supplemental Rule G(5)(b).
On November 28, 2012, plaintiff and claimant filed a Release and Settlement
of All Claims and Stipulation and Consent to Entry of Order of Forfeiture. The

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plaintiff and claimant agreed that the defendant property is subject to civil
forfeiture as alleged in the Verified Complaint pursuant to 21 U.S.C., § 881(a)(7).
However, the plaintiff agreed that claimant had up to 60 days from November 16,
2012, to tender money in lieu of forfeiture of the defendant real property in an
amount that the plaintiff (in its discretion) could accept or reject. (Id.). The
plaintiff reports that it has neither received such a monetary offer in lieu of
forfeiture nor had any communication from claimant’s counsel since the parties filed
the settlement agreement. Claimant’s time to make such an offer has expired.
Therefore, this matter is ripe for final disposition.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Court having considered the matter and having
been fully advised in the premises, it is ORDERED, ADJUDGED, and
DECREED as follows:
1. This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter, and the complaint
states a claim upon which relief may be granted.
2. In accordance with the Verified Complaint and the parties’ settlement
agreement, the defendant, 10730 Meadow Lane West, Irvington, Alabama, together
with its building, appurtenances, improvements, fixtures, attachments and
easements, that would constitute the residence, curtilage and outlying property in
Mobile County, Alabama, as more fully described herein above is ordered to be
forfeited to the plaintiff, the United States of America for disposition according to
law pursuant to Title 21, U.S.C., § 881(a)(7), and Title 18, U.S.C., § 985(c)(1)(A).

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3. This Order resolving all matters and issues joined in this action, the Clerk
of Court is directed to close this file for administrative and statistical purposes.
DONE and ORDERED this 30th day of January, 2013.
/s/ Callie V. S. Granade
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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