United States of America v. Approximately $22,769.00 in U.S. Currency

Filing 22

CONSENT JUDGMENT of FORFEITURE signed by District Judge Morrison C. England, Jr. on 2/13/2017. CASE CLOSED. (Jackson, T)

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4 PHILLIP A. TALBERT United States Attorney KEVIN C. KHASIGIAN Assistant U. S. Attorney 501 I Street, Suite 10-100 Sacramento, CA 95814 Telephone: (916) 554-2700 5 Attorneys for the United States 1 2 3 6 7 8 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 12 Plaintiff, 13 14 15 v. 2:15-MC-00111-MCE-CKD CONSENT JUDGMENT OF FORFEITURE APPROXIMATELY $22,769.00 IN U.S. CURRENCY, Defendant. 16 17 Pursuant to the Stipulation for Consent Judgment of Forfeiture, the Court finds: 18 1. On April 15, 2015, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) 19 contacted Huey Kiet Nguyen (“Nguyen” or “claimant”) at the Sacramento International Airport in 20 Sacramento, California. Approximately $22,769.00 in U.S. Currency (“defendant currency”) was 21 seized from Nguyen during this encounter. 22 2. The DEA commenced administrative forfeiture proceedings, sending direct written notice 23 to all known potential claimants and publishing notice to all others. On or about July 20, 2015, the DEA 24 received a claim from Nguyen asserting an ownership interest in the defendant currency. 25 3. Claimant does not contest the United States’ representation that it could show at a 26 forfeiture trial the following: On April 15, 2015, agents with the DEA received information regarding 27 travel by Nguyen. Law enforcement agents responded to the terminal and observed Nguyen exit the 28 flight and begin walking towards the terminal exit. A DEA agent approached Nguyen and requested 1 Consent Judgment of Forfeiture 29 1 permission to speak with him. The government contends that Nguyen agreed. 2 4. Claimant does not dispute the United States’ representation that it could show at a 3 forfeiture trial that a DEA agent received consent from Nguyen to search his luggage. The agent located 4 a total of $22,769.00 in cash in two large bundles rubber banded and partially concealed in a white shirt. 5 The government contends that a drug detection dog alerted to the smell of narcotics on the cash. 6 5. Claimant does not dispute the United States’ representation that according to the 7 Employment Development Department as of May 27, 2016, no wages were reported for Nguyen for 8 2015 and 2016. 9 6. The United States could further show at a forfeiture trial that the defendant currency is 10 forfeitable to the United States pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(6). 11 7. Without admitting the truth of the factual assertions contained above, claimant 12 specifically denying the same, and for the purpose of reaching an amicable resolution and compromise 13 of this matter, claimant agrees that an adequate factual basis exists to support forfeiture of the 14 defendant currency. Nguyen acknowledged that he is the sole owner of the defendant currency, and 15 that no other person or entity has any legitimate claim of interest therein. Should any person or entity 16 institute any kind of claim or action against the government with regard to its forfeiture of the 17 defendant currency, claimant shall hold harmless and indemnify the United States, as set forth below. 18 8. This Court has jurisdiction in this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1345 and 1355, as 19 this is the judicial district in which acts or omissions giving rise to the forfeiture occurred. 20 9. This Court has venue pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1395, as this is the judicial district in 21 which the defendant currency was seized. 22 10. The parties herein desire to settle this matter pursuant to the terms of a duly executed 23 Stipulation for Consent Judgment of Forfeiture. 24 Based upon the above findings, and the files and records of the Court, it is hereby ORDERED 25 AND ADJUDGED: 26 1. The Court adopts the Stipulation for Consent Judgment of Forfeiture entered into by 27 and between the parties. 28 29 2. Upon entry of this Consent Judgment of Forfeiture, $10,769.00 of the Approximately 2 Consent Judgment of Forfeiture 1 $22,769.00 in U.S. Currency, together with any interest that may have accrued on the total amount 2 seized, shall be forfeited to the United States pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(6), to be disposed of 3 according to law. 4 3. Upon entry of this Consent Judgment of Forfeiture, but no later than 60 days thereafter, 5 $12,000.00 of the Approximately $22,769.00 in U.S. Currency shall be returned to claimant Huey Kiet 6 Nguyen through his attorney Victor S. Haltom. 7 4. The United States of America and its servants, agents, and employees and all other 8 public entities, their servants, agents and employees, are released from any and all liability arising out 9 of or in any way connected with the seizure or forfeiture of the defendant currency. This is a full and 10 final release applying to all unknown and unanticipated injuries, and/or damages arising out of said 11 seizure or forfeiture, as well as to those now known or disclosed. Claimant waived the provisions of 12 California Civil Code § 1542. 13 5. No portion of the stipulated settlement, including statements or admissions made 14 therein, shall be admissible in any criminal action pursuant to Rules 408 and 410(a)(4) of the Federal 15 Rules of Evidence. 16 6. All parties will bear their own costs and attorney’s fees. 17 7. Pursuant to the Stipulation for Consent Judgment of Forfeiture filed herein, the Court 18 enters a Certificate of Reasonable Cause pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2465, that there was reasonable cause 19 for the seizure of the above-described defendant currency. 20 IT IS SO ORDERED. 21 Dated: February 13, 2017 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 3 Consent Judgment of Forfeiture

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