United States of America v. 1997 Lamborghini Diablo, Vin ZA9RU37P6VLA12636 et al

Filing 29

ORDER Re: Related Case Notices. Signed by Judge Ronald M. Whyte on 9/29/10. (jg, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 9/29/2010)

United States of America v. 1997 Lamborghini Diablo, Vin ZA9RU37P6VLA12636 et al

Doc. 29

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ORDER RE RELATED CASE NOTICES Case No. CR-06-00748-RMW

*E-FILED: 9/29/10*

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, vs. ANDREW THOMAS RUSSO, et al., Defendants. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, vs. 1997 LAMBORGHINI DIABLO, VIN: ZA9RU37P6VLA12636, Defendant.

Case No. CR-06-00748-RMW ORDER RE RELATED CASE NOTICES

Case No. C-07-03120-RMW ORDER RE RELATED CASE NOTICES

Dockets.Justia.com

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, vs. REAL PROPERTY AND IMPROVEMENTS LOCATED AT 205 SE SPANISH TRAIL, BOCA RATON, FLORIDA, Defendant. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, vs. 2008 INFINITI QX56, VIN: 5N3AA08D68N905742 Defendant. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, vs. ROBERT SMOLEY, Defendant. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, vs. MELISSA PERKINS, Defendant.

Case No. C-07-03874-RMW ORDER RE RELATED CASE NOTICES

Case No. CR-09-01728-RMW ORDER RE RELATED CASE NOTICES

Case No. CR-10-00619-JSW ORDER RE RELATED CASE NOTICES

Case No. CR-10-00620-WHA ORDER RE RELATED CASE NOTICES

ORDER RE RELATED CASE NOTICES Case No. CR-06-00748-RMW

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, vs. NAPOLI, et al., Defendants.

Case No. CR-10-00642-RS ORDER RE RELATED CASE NOTICES

The question before the court is whether the cases listed below, or some of them, should be related. Case United States v. Russo, et al. CR-06-0748 RMW Subject Matter Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances over internet involving defendants Andrew Russo, Dennis Leborgne, David John and Jon Tuite Forfeiture of assets related to CR-06-0748 per ¶ 7 of complaint Status Judgments entered following plea agreements against Russo, Leborgne and John in 2008; Tuite case transferred to South Carolina in 2007 Pursuant to Rule 20 plea and sentence Dismissed on 9/13/2010 without prejudice per request of government now stating forfeiture relates to CR-100642 RS Dismissed on 12/24/2008 without prejudice on stipulation of parties Dismissed on 9/15/2010 without prejudice on stipulation of parties that case related to CR-10-0620 WHA Pending before Judge White

United States v. 1997 Lamborghini C-07-3120 RMW

United States v. Real Property 205 SE Spanish Trail C-07-3874 RMW United States v. 2008 Infiniti C-09-1728 RMW

Forfeiture of assets apparently related to CR-06-0748 with Michael Arnold as claimant Forfeiture of assets related to CR-06-0748 per ¶ 2 of complaint Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances over internet involving Robert Smoley Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances over internet involving Melisa Perkins

United States v. Smoley CR-10-0619 JSW

United States v. Perkins CR-10-0620 WHA

Pending before Judge Alsup

ORDER RE RELATED CASE NOTICES Case No. CR-06-00748-RMW

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United States v. Napoli, et al. CR-10-0642 RS

Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances over internet involving Christopher Napoli, Daniel Johnson, Salvatore, Steven Paul, Jeffrey Entel, Joseph Carozza, Jeffrey Herholz, Darrell Creque, Michael Arnold, Diego Podolsky Paes, Dino Antonioni

Pending before Judge Seeborg

The government has filed Notices of Related Cases in some of the cases and seems to have taken a somewhat different position on the forfeiture cases now than it did in the past. It does appear that each of the criminal cases arises out of an on-going investigation of internet pharmacies. However, it also appears Russo involves different parties than the other cases and that none of the pending cases are related to Russo. In any event, even if the later cases which are pending in the San Francisco Division are "related" to the Russo case, assignment of those cases to me, the judge who handled the Russo case, is not likely to conserve judicial resources and promote the efficient determination of the actions. The Russo case was disposed of by plea agreements and a Rule 20 transfer. I did not become involved in the substance of the case except to the extent necessary for sentencing and, in particular, did not become concerned with the conduct of other than that of defendants Russo, Leborgne, and John. I also did not have to resolve any significant legal issues. In other words, my involvement with Russo would not enable me to handle the pending cases with any more efficiency than the judges currently assigned. I had essentially no substantive involvement with the forfeiture cases. The cases now pending in the San Francisco Division may be related. However, the fact that they all involve internet pharmacies that may have been investigated in the same on-going investigation does not mean that they concern the same alleged events, occurrences, transactions or property. See Crim. L.R.8-1(b)(1). In any event, the question of whether the cases other than Russo, i.e. those now pending in the San Francisco, should be related is properly left to the discretion of Judge White, who has the pending case with the lowest case number. For the above reasons, the court orders:
ORDER RE RELATED CASE NOTICES Case No. CR-06-00748-RMW

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1. United States v. Smoley, CR-10-0619 JSW; United States v. Perkins, CR-10-0619 WHA; and United States v. Napoli, et al., 10 CR-0620 RS, are not related to United States v. Russo, CR-061748 RMW, and 2. The question of whether United States v. Smoley, CR-10-0619; United States v. Perkins, CR-10-0619; and United States v. Napoli, et al., 10 CR-0620, are related is left to the discretion of Judge White as Smoley has the lowest case number of the pending cases. DATED: 9/29/10

_____________________________________ RONALD M. WHYTE United States District Judge

ORDER RE RELATED CASE NOTICES Case No. CR-06-00748-RMW

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ORDER RE RELATED CASE NOTICES Case No. CR-06-00748-RMW

Copy of Order E-Filed to Counsel of Record: