United States Of America v. Approximately $8,800 in American Express Travelers' Checks et al

Filing 51

ORDER TO STAY. Parties to file update after resolution of other action. re 48 Case Management Statement filed by United States Of America (whalc2, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 1/16/2013)

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MELINDA HAAG (CSBN 132612)
United States Attorney

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MIRANDA KANE (CSBN 150630)
Chief, Criminal Division

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DAVID B. COUNTRYMAN (CSBN 226995)
Assistant United States Attorney

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450 Golden Gate Avenue, 11th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94102
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: 415.436.7234
Email: [e-mail]

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Attorneys for United States of America
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff,

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v.
APPROXIMATELY $8,800 IN
AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVELERS’
CHECKS; AND ONE PENTAX 35mm
CAMERA, SERIAL NUMBER 1318242

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Defendant.
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No. CV 09-2308 WHA
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CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE
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STAY
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Plaintiff, United States of America, and claimant Gary Hardeman respectfully submit this

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Joint Case Management Statement.

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1. Jurisdiction and Service

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This Court has jurisdiction under Title 28, United States Code, Sections 1345 and

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1355(a); Title 18, United States Code, Section 981(a)(1)(A); Title 18, United States Code,

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Sections 2254; Title 18, United States Code, Section 2428. There are no counterclaims. Plaintiff

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has served notice of this action on all persons who may have an interest in the property,

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including the following: Claimant Gary Hardeman.

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2. Facts

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On November 30, 2008, Gary Hardeman was arrested at the San Francisco International

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Airport after boarding a flight to Mexico. Among his belongings, agents found and seized the

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defendant property. Hardeman was arrested on an outstanding warrant for failing to register as a

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sex offender, and charges are currently pending in San Francisco County Superior Court.

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Hardeman was also arrested for Engaging in Illicit Sexual Conduct in Foreign Places, and

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charges are currently pending in the federal District Court for the Northern District of California.

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3. Principal Factual and Legal Issues

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The principal factual and legal issues in dispute are: 1) whether plaintiff can establish by

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a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant property is property intended to be used to

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commit or promote the sexual exploitation of children, illegal sexual activity, or child

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pornography; (2) whether plaintiff can establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the

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defendant property is property involved money laundering relating to illegal sexual activity or

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the sexual exploitation of children; 3) whether claimant Gary Hardeman can establish by a

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preponderance of the evidence that he is an innocent owner of the defendant property.

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4. Anticipated Motions

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On January 5, 2011, Court stayed the instant civil forfeiture case until April 7, 2011, due

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to claimant’s pending criminal prosecution: United States v. Hardeman, 10-cr-00859 RS. On

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October 20, 2011, the United States filed Notice of Appeal of the District Court’s dismissal of

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Count Two of the Indictment (Docket No. 79), and on October 21, 2011 the Court vacated the

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trial and pre-trial dates. Docket No. 82. On January 14, 2012, the Ninth Circuit reversed the

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district court’s dismissal of Count Two and remanded for further proceedings. As Mr.

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Hardeman’s criminal cases are still ongoing, the parties respectfully request an additional stay of

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this case, so as not to raise the risk of self-incrimination or adversely affect the ability of the

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government to prosecute the related criminal cases.

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5. Relief/Damages

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Plaintiff seeks a judgment of forfeiture of the defendant property. This is not a damages
CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE STATEMENT AND PROPOSED ORDER
No. CV 09-2308 WHA
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case. Claimant Gary Hardeman seeks the return of the defendant property.

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6. Settlement

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Given the stay of this action necessitated by the pending criminal cases, it is too early to

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anticipate settlement with any accuracy.

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7. Discovery

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This is an in rem forfeiture case and is exempt from initial disclosures pursuant to

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Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(a)(l)(B)(ii). Given the stay of this action necessitated by the

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pending criminal cases, no discovery has occurred.

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8. Alternative Means of Disposition

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The parties would be amenable to the assignment of a settlement magistrate, after the

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resolution of the pending criminal cases.

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9. Related Cases

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This case is related to claimant’s pending criminal prosecution.

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Dated: 01/15/13
/S/ Daniel Paul Blank
DANIEL PAUL BLANK
Attorney for Claimant

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Dated:01/15/13
/S/ David B. Countryman
DAVID B. COUNTRYMAN
Assistant United States Attorney

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CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE STATEMENT AND PROPOSED ORDER
No. CV 09-2308 WHA
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[PROPOSED] ORDER TO STAY
Based upon claimant Gary Hardeman’s request to continue the stay of the current

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forfeiture proceedings, the United States’ non-opposition, and for good cause appearing, it is

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HEREBY ORDERED that the instant case be, and hereby is, STAYED, pursuant to 18 U.S.C.

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§ 981(g).

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Pursuant to request of the parties and for good cause shown, this action will be

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“administratively closed” for purposes of the Civil Justice Reform Act reporting requirements

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until the resolution of United States v. Hardeman, 10-cr-00859. The parties shall file a status

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report herein no later than FOURTEEN DAYS after the resolution of the criminal action.

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SO ORDERED.
Dated: January 15, 2013.
WILLIAM ALSUP
United States District Judge

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CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE STATEMENT AND PROPOSED ORDER
No. CV 09-2308 WHA
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