United States of America v. $91,110.00 in United States Currency

Filing 42

ORDER approving ECF No. 41 Settlement Agreement. Signed by Judge Larry R. Hicks on 12/21/2016. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - KR)

Case 2:12-cv-01112-LRH-CWH Document 41 Filed 12/20/16 Page 1 of 6

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DAN IEL G. BOGDEN
United Stales Attorney
Nevada State Bar No. 2 137
MJCII/\ EI. A. II UM PIJREYS
Ass is1a111 Un ited States Allorncy
50 I Las V1.:gas Bou k n ircl South, Su it1..: I I 00
Las Vegas, Nevada 89 10 I
Telephone: [phone]
facsi mil e: [phone]
Counsel for United States

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UN ITED STAT ES DJSTRICT COURT

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DISTRICT OF NEVADA

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UN ITED STATES OF AMERICA.

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Plai11tiff,

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15 $9 J, I IO IN UN ITli D ST/\ TES
CU RRENCY,
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Dere11danl.
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2: 12-CV- 111 2-LRll -(C'W ll )

)
) Settlement Agrec1ncn1 for Enuy or Judgment
) or Forfoiturc as to Linda Pitts As Duly
) Aulhoriz.ecl Representative of T he Estate or
) Noel I Icard ,ind Order
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The United Swtcs of America and l,inda Pitts, as the du ly authorized n.:prcscntativc

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the Estate of Noel l leard, and her counsel, Gabriel L. Grasso, agree as fo llows:
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This case is a civil lorlciturc m:tion seeking to forfeit $9 1, 11 0 u11dcr T itl e 2 1,

2 1 U11itcd Stat<.:s Code, Sect ion 88 1(a)(6).
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$9 1, 11 0.
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Linda Pitts know ingly and voluntarily agrees to the civil j udicial fo rfei ture of the

States.

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Linda Pitts knowingly and vo luntarily agrees to forfe it the $9 1, 110 to the United

Case 2:12-cv-01112-LRH-CWH Document 41 Filed 12/20/16 Page 2 of 6

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interest in the £9 1, 110.

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Linda Pitts knowingly nncl voluntarily agrees to relinquish all right, title, and

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Linda Pitts know ingly and voluntarily agn;cs lo w;ii ve her right lO any civil judicial

fi1rl'eiturc proceedi ngs (proceedings) com:crning th<.: $9 1, 11 0.

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Linda Pitts knowingly and vo luntarily agrees to waive service of process or any and

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ni l documents fi led in thi s action or ,my proceedings concerning the $9 I, 11 0 arlsing from the

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ra<.: ts and circumstances ol' this case.

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Linda Pitts know ingly and voluntari ly agrees to wa ive any further notice to her. her

9 agent, or her allnrneys regarding the forfe iture and disposi ti on o f' the $9 1, 110.
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Linda Pi tts knowingly and voluntarily t1grces not to li le any claim, answer, petition,

or other documents in any proceedings concerning the $9 1, 110.

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Linda Pills know ingly and voluntarily agn:es to withdraw any claims, answers,

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counte n.: laims, petitions. or other documents she fil ed in any proceedings concerning the

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$9 1, 11 0.

I 0. Linda Pills knowingly and voluntarily agrees to wa ive the statute or limitations. the

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16 C'/\f-'RA requin.:rncnts, Supplemental Rules f'or Admiralty ur Mc1 ritimc Claims nml Asset
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Forfeiture Actions A, C, E. and G, 18 U.S.C'. ~ 983 , the constitutiona l requirements, uncl the

18 conslitutionul due prot:css rcquirt!mcnts o f' any forfei ture proceedings concerning the $9 1,110.
11. Linda Pills knowingly and voluntarily agrees to wa ivt: her right to a tri;il on the

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f'orfeiturc o l' the $9 1, 110.

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12. Linda Pills knowingly and voluntnrily agrees to waive (a) all constitutional. legal,

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and cquitabh.: defenses to, (b) any constitutional or statutory double jeopard y clcf'cnsc or claim

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concerning, and (c) any claim or defe nse under the Eighth Arncndmcnl to the United States

24 Constitt1tion, including, but not li1ni tecl to, any claim or defense or excessive tines o r cruel and
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unusunl punishments in any proceedings concerning the $9 1, 11 0.

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III

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Case 2:12-cv-01112-LRH-CWH Document 41 Filed 12/20/16 Page 3 of 6

13. Linda Pitts knowingly and voluntarily agrees to tht: entry of a Judgment of'
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Forl'i:iturc ol' the $9 1, 11 0 to the United States.
1--1. Linda Pill s knowingly and voluntaril y agrees to the conditions set J'orlh in this

Sct1k111c11l Agreement ror Entry o f' Judgment o l' Forlciturc as to Linda Pitts as chd y authori ;t.ccl

5 rcpresentativ<.: of The Estal<.: of Noel I Icard and Order (Settlement Agreement).
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15. Linda Pills krl(lwingly and voluntnrily agn:cs to hold harmless the United Slates, the

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United States Dcpartm<::nt o r .Justice, the United States Attorney's Onicc for the District of

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Nevada , the Drug Enlq rccmcnt AcJministrntion, the T ransportation Security Administration,

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I lorrn:land Scx:urity In vestigations, the Unit ed Stales Dcparlrncnt

or I lomcland Security, the Las

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Vegas Mi:tropolitan Police Department, tht.: Nt.:vnda I lighway Patrol, the l lcndcrson Police

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Dcparltm:nt , their agcncii:s, thei r agents, and their empl oyees from any claim made by Linda

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Pitts or any third pnrly arising nut of the fa cts nnd circumstances or this case.

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l 6. I,inda Pitts knowingly and voluntc1rily rt:leascs and forcvl.!r discharges the Uni ted

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States, the United States Department 01' Justice, the United Stales Atlornt:y's OJ'licc for the

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District of' Nevnda, the Drng Enforcement Adminislralion, the T ransporlaLion Security

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Administration, l lomcland Security Investigations, the United States Department or I lomcland

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I lcnclcrsnn Police Department, their agcncics, their agents, and their c mployl.!cS from any and al l

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claims, rights, or causes or action o f' any kind that Linda Pills now has or may hcrea rtcr have on

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account o r, or in any way growing m1t ol', the seizures and the forfei tures of the property in the

21 civil judicial forfeit ure.
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17. Linda Pills knowingly and vollmtarily acknowlcclges, understands, and agrees that

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(a) she will fill out the Department o f'thc United States T reasury Automated Clearing House

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(ACH) form on behalf o f Noel Heard and will be using his personal information 10 complete the

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l'orm; (b) federal law requires the Department o J'thc United Slates Treasury and other di sbursing

26 o nici11ls tu o!Tscl federal pc1yments lo collect delinquent tax and non-tux debts owed lo the

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Case 2:12-cv-01112-LRH-CWH Document 41 Filed 12/20/16 Page 4 of 6

United Slatl!s and to indi vidual states (int:!ucling past-due child support); (e) i!'a11 offsl!t occurs to
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the payment to be mnclc on bdrnlf ofNoel Hcnrcl pursLiant to this ngn:cmcnt, she will receive a

3 noti f'i cation from the Dcpm1111c11t or the United States Trensury nt the last .icldrcss provided by
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her to the governmental ,,gency or cntity to whom the () !Tset payment is mack ; (d) ir she he!ie,·cs

5 the paymen t may be suhj cd to an offset, she may contact the Treasury Department al 1-800-304(>

3 107; (e) the terms of thi s selllcment do nnl ,1 1fcct the tax obligations lines, penalt ies, or any

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other rnonctnry obligations owed

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delivered lo Gabrid L. Grasso, on bd1a lf' o!" Noel I Icard, may well be a lesser sum, if'thc

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Tn:asury Offset Program reduces the amount in satisfaction of'a debt obl igation .

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the United Stal!Js or an indi vidual state; nnd (I') the exact sum

18. /\f'lcr the property is rorf'cited in the civi l casc and the United Stutc.:s Distl'i1.: t C'nurt

11 has signed the Sc.:lllcment Agreement concurning the property, wi thin a practicable time

12 thercaf'tcr for the United Stntcs, the United States agrec.:s to relcusc to Linda Pitts as the duly
13 authori zud rcpresl.!nlntive or The Estate of' Nod Heard one payment

or $27,333 less any debt

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States is authorized to cnll eel, through Gnbriel L. Grasso. Linda Pitts as the duly authori;,.cd

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rl!prcscntati vc of'Thc Estnte of Noel IIcard knowingly and voluntarily agrees to fill ou t the ACl-:I

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form accurately a11d correctly regarding Nod I learcl and submit it to the United States Attorney's

18 Ortice so that the payment of the moncy can be disbursed by electronic !"und transfer. Linda Pills
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as the duly authorized representati ve of'The Estate of Noel I leard knowingly and voluntarily

20 agrees the S27,333 may be offset by c1ny debt owed

to

the United Statl:S, nny agency of the

21 United Stal es, or any debt in whid1 the.: United States is authorizc.:cl to coll c.:ct.
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19. Each party ncknowlcdgcs and warrants that its execution of' the Settlement

Agreement is free and is voluntary.

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20. The Settlement Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties.

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2 1. Except as expressly stated in the Settlement Agreement, no party, orficcr, agent,

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employee, rcpresc.:ntativc.:, or altorney has made any statement or representation to any other

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Case 2:12-cv-01112-LRH-CWH Document 41 Filed 12/20/16 Page 5 of 6

pnrty, person, or entity regarding any rael relied upon in entering into the Settlement Agreement.
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parly, officer, agent, employee, n.:prcscntativc, or attorney n:lies on such statement or

3 rcprcscnliltion in cxceuting the Sculcmcnl Agreement.
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22. The pcrsons signing the Scttle1ncnt J\grccme11t \\'arrant and rtp rcsc111 that they have
fu ll authority to cxccLtte the Settlcmcnl Agreement and to bind the persons and/or entities, nn

6 whose bclrnl f' thcy an; signing, to the terms of' lhe Scttlcmenl Agreement.
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23. Thi s Scttlemcnl /\grcement slwll bu construed and interprclccl according to federal

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forfeiture lnw and li.:dcrnl common law. 'f'hcjl1riscliction rind the venue l'or any dispute related

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to, and/or arising l'rom, this Settl ement Agreement is the unorlicial Southern Division ol' lhc

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United Slal\!s Di strict Court ll>r tlw Distrii.;t of' Nevada, located in Las Vl!gas, Nevada .

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24. Euch party shall bear her or its ow n attorneys ' r~cs, expenses, costs, and interest.

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25. T his Settlement Agreement shall not be construed more strictly against one party

13 thun 11gainst the other merely by virlu<.: of' the fact that it may have been prepa red primarily by
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couns<.:I for one

orthe parties; it bei ng recognized that both parties have contributed substant ially

15 nnd malcrinll y to the preparation o!'t his Settlement Agrecm<.:nt.
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Case 2:12-cv-01112-LRH-CWH Document 41 Filed 12/20/16 Page 6 of 6

IT IS HEREBY Cl~
RTIF I l~D, pmsuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2465(a)(2), that there wus

2 reasonab le cause fo r the seizure and rorfoiture of the $9 1,110.
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D/\Tl~ - - - - - - - D:

5 G/\13 Rl ~L L. GRASSO, P.C.

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0/\BRI EL L. (i lV \ SSO
8 Co unsel !hr Linda Pills as the duly
authorized representat ive for The Estate of
9 Noe l I leard

ICI 1
/\EI. A. 1IUMPHR EYS

Ass istant United Slates Allorncy

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IT IS SO OHD ERED:

DATED this 21st day of December, 2016
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________________________________
UN ITED ST/\TES DISTRICT JUDGE
LARRY R. HICKS
DATED:
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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