United States of America v. $15,925.00 in U.S. Currency

Filing 24

ORDER that a Final Judgment of Forfeiture is entered in favor of the United States against $7,962.50 of the Defendant Currency, which the United States shall dispose of according to law and the terms of this Order. The United States shall rel ease $3,462.50 to Robbie Lee Bufkin., Jr. and release $4,500.00 to Tanisha Bufkin. Neither Robbie Lee Bufkin, Jr. nor Tanisha Bufkin shall be entitled to receive any further payment from the United States as a result of the seizure. The pa rties shall be responsible for payment of their own expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred in connection with this proceeding. The Clerk shall enter final judgment and administratively close this case. For the purpose of enforcing this Order, however, the Court shall retain jurisdiction for. Signed by Judge J. Randal Hall on 11/23/2015. (thb)

IN THE UNITED STATES
SOUTHERN

DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE

DISTRICT OF GEORGIA

AUGUSTA DIVISION
*

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

*

Plaintiff,
*

v.

$15,925.00 in U.S.

*

CURRENCY,

l:14-cv-194

*
*

Defendant.

*
*
*

*

ORDER

Presently

pending

before

the

Court

is

the

Stipulation of Settlement and Release of All Claims.

parties'

(Doc. 23).

On March 27, 2014, the Taliaferro County Sheriffs Office seized

$15,925.00 in United States Currency (the "Defendant Currency")
from Robbie Lee Bufkin, Jr. and another individual. On October 7,

2014, the United States initiated the instant civil forfeiture
action by filing a Verified Complaint for Forfeiture in Rem

against the Defendant Currency pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 881(a) (6).
(Doc. 1).

On or about October 10, 2015, the United States served

Mr. Bufkin with copies of the Complaint and Notice of Forfeiture.

(Doc. 3) .

In addition, the United States notified all other

potential claimants by publishing notice on www.forfeiture.gov,
an official government website,

October 15, 2014.

(Doc. 9).

for thirty days beginning on

On November 14, 2014, Mr. Bufkin

filed

a

claim to

$6,925.00

of

the

Defendant

Currency,

sister,

Tanisha Bufkin,

filed a claim to the remainder.

7-8).

On

2014,

and his

December

3,

Mr.

Bufkin

separate Answers to the United States1
11) .

and

Ms.

(Docs.

Bufkin

complaint.

filed

(Does.

10 &

No other claim was filed, and the time in which to do so

has expired.

The

parties

have

now

entered

into

a

Stipulation

of

Settlement and Release of All Claims resolving all of the issues

raised in the Complaint.

agreed

as

follows:

(Doc. 23).

(1)

that

the

$3,462.50 to Robbie Lee Bufkin,

Specifically, the parties

United

Jr.

States

shall

return

in consideration for his

agreement to forfeit to the United States the remaining $3,462.50
that he has claimed;

(2)

that the United States shall release

$4,500.00 to Tanisha Bufkin in consideration for her agreement to
forfeit the remaining $4,500.00 that she has claimed;
that

this

shall

constitute

full

and final

settlement

and (3)
of all

claims that Mr. and Ms. Bufkin have as a result of the March 27,
2014

seizure.

The Court hereby finds that the United States has furnished
due and legal notice of this proceeding as required by statute,

and that

all

persons

known to the United States

to have

a

possible interest in the Defendant Currency have notice of this
action.

THEREFORE,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A Final Judgment of Forfeiture is hereby entered in favor
of the

United States against $7,962.50 of the

Currency,

which

the

United

States

shall

Defendant

dispose

of

Robbie

Lee

according to law and the terms of this Order.

2. The United States

Bufkin.,

Jr.

and

shall

release $3,462.50

release $4,500.00

Neither Robbie Lee Bufkin,

be

entitled

to

receive

Jr.

any

to

to

Tanisha

Bufkin.

nor Tanisha Bufkin shall

further

payment

from

the

United States as a result of the seizure.

3. The parties shall be responsible for payment of their own

expenses,

including

attorneys'

fees,

incurred

in

connection with this proceeding.

4. The Clerk shall enter final judgment and administratively

CLOSE

this

case.

For

the

purpose

of enforcing

this

Order, however, the Court shall retain jurisdiction for
30 days.

ORDER ENTERED at Augusta,
November,

Georgia,

this

<>£.£ *&
day of

2015.

HONORABLE/J. RAMDAL HALIA
UNITED~~3TATES DISTRICT JUDGE
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA