United States of America v. Approximately $49,990.00 in U.S. Currency

Filing 17

STIPULATION AND ORDER for Final Judgment of Forfeiture signed by Judge Kimberly J. Mueller on 4/20/15 re 16 . (Meuleman, A)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

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Plaintiff,

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No. 2:14-cv-02639-KJM-AC

v.

ORDER

APPROXIMATELY $49,990.00 IN U.S.
CURRENCY,
Defendant.

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Pursuant to the Stipulation for Final Judgment of Forfeiture, ECF No. 16, the court

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finds:
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This is a civil action against Approximately $49,990.00 in U.S. Currency

(“Defendant Currency”) seized on or about May 1, 2014.
2.

A Verified Complaint for Forfeiture In Rem (“Complaint”) was filed on

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November 12, 2014, alleging that said defendant currency is subject to forfeiture to the United

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States pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(6).

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3.

On November 18, 2014, the Clerk issued a Warrant for Arrest for the

defendant currency, and that warrant was executed on November 24, 2014.

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4.

Beginning on November 18, 2014, for at least 30 consecutive days, the

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United States published Notice of the Forfeiture Action on the official internet government

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forfeiture site www.forfeiture.gov. A Declaration of Publication was filed on January 15, 2015.

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5.

In addition to the public notice on the official internet government

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forfeiture site www.forfeiture.gov, actual notice or attempted notice was given to the following

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individual(s):

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a.

Vitikami Pisinga Vaenuku

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b.

Guadalupe Barron-Magana

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c.

Javier Gomez-Sosa

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d.

Kalatiola Lutu

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6.

Claimant Sina Vaenuku filed a claim alleging an interest in the Defendant

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Currency on January 28, 2015. No other parties have filed claims or answers in this matter, and

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the time in which any person or entity may file a claim and answer has expired.

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7.

The Clerk of the Court entered a Clerk’s Certificate of Entry of Default

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against Vitikami Pisinga Vaenuku, Guadalupe Barron-Magana, Javier Gomez-Sosa, and Kalatiola

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Lutu on March 13, 2015. ECF No. 15. Pursuant to Local Rule 540, the United States and

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claimant thus join in a request that as part of this Final Judgment of Forfeiture the court enter a

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default judgment against the interests, if any, of Vitikami Pisinga Vaenuku, Guadalupe Barron-

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Magana, Javier Gomez-Sosa, and Kalatiola Lutu without further notice.

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Based on the above findings, and the files and records of the court, it is hereby

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ORDERED AND ADJUDGED:

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1.

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The court adopts the Stipulation for Final Judgment of Forfeiture entered

into by and between the parties to this action.
2.

Judgment is hereby entered against claimant Heath Smith and all other

potential claimants who have not filed claims in this action.
3.

Upon entry of this Final Judgment of Forfeiture, $39,990.00 of the

Approximately $49,990.00 in U.S. Currency together with any interest that may have accrued on

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the total amount seized, shall be forfeited to the United States pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(6),

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to be disposed of according to law.

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4.

Upon entry of this Final Judgment of Forfeiture, but no later than 60 days

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thereafter, $10,000.00 of the Approximately $49,990.00 in U.S. Currency shall be returned to

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Claimant Sina Vaenuku.

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5.

The United States and its servants, agents, and employees and all other

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public entities, their servants, agents, and employees, are released from any and all liability

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arising out of or in any way connected with the seizure, arrest, or forfeiture of the defendant

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currency. This is a full and final release applying to all unknown and unanticipated injuries,

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and/or damages arising out of said seizure, arrest, or forfeiture, as well as to those now known or

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disclosed. The parties waived the provisions of California Civil Code § 1542.

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6.

Claimant waived any and all claim or right to interest that may have

accrued on the defendant currency.

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7.

All parties are to bear their own costs and attorneys’ fees.

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8.

The undersigned shall retain jurisdiction to enforce the terms of this Final

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Judgment of Forfeiture.
9.

Based upon the allegations set forth in the Complaint filed November 12,

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2014, and the Stipulation for Final Judgment of Forfeiture filed herein, the court enters this

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Certificate of Reasonable Cause pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2465, that there was reasonable cause for

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the seizure and arrest of the defendant currency, and for the commencement and prosecution of

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this forfeiture action.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: April 20, 2015.

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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