United States of America v. $16,000.00 in United States Currency

Filing 23

DEFAULT AND FINAL JUDGMENT of Forfeiture as to $16,000.00 in United States Currency and David Mueller, Bruce Nelson, and Joshua Nelson. Signed by Judge Miranda M. Du on 7/11/14. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - JC)

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1 DANIEL G. BOGDEN
United States Attorney
2 Nevada State Bar No. 2137
Michael A. Humphreys
3 Assistant United States Attorney
Lloyd D. George United States Courthouse
4 333 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Suite 5000
Las Vegas, Nevada 89101
5 Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
6 Counsel for Plaintiff
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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DISTRICT OF NEVADA

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
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Plaintiff,
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v.
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$16,000.00 IN UNITED STATES
16 CURRENCY,
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Defendant.

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) 3:12-CV-411-MMD-(VPC)
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DEFAULT JUDGMENT OF FORFEITURE AS TO ALL PERSONS OR ENTITIES WHO
CLAIM AN INTEREST IN THE $16,000.00 IN UNITED STATES CURRENCY
AND
FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORFEITURE AS TO $16,000.00 IN UNITED STATES CURRENCY
AND DAVID MUELLER, BRUCE NELSON, AND JOSHUA NELSON

21 I. FACTS
22

1.

On March 9, 2012, Matthew Aaron Mueller was stopped on Interstate 80 near Elko,

23 Nevada for a traffic violation. Mueller’s father, David Mueller, was a back-seat passenger. Suspicious
24 of Matthew Mueller’s nervous behavior, and conflicting answers from both Muellers regarding the
25 nature of their travel, the law enforcement officer asked for and received consent from the Muellers to
26 search the car. A drug-detection dog alerted to the presence of a controlled substance in the vehicle.

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1

2.

Inside the vehicle’s trunk were found two large bags. The bags contained a microscope,

2 two large empty bags, a scale, and a notebook with numbers on it totaling approximately $16,000.00.
3 Microscopes are commonly used by drug traffickers to ascertain the quality of marijuana plants, while
4 scales are used by drug traffickers to weigh and determine drug amounts. The two empty bags were
5 consistent with the type used to transport drugs. The notebook was consistent with that of a drug
6 ledger.
7

3.

Also found in the car were pre-paid cell phones and two books on the cultivation of

8 marijuana.
9

4.

David Mueller was later found to have $16,000.00 in United States Currency concealed

10 in his clothing. The currency was wrapped in rubber bands consistent with the manner in which
11 couriers package drug proceeds.
12 II. PROCEDURE
13

5.

The United States of America (“United States”) filed a verified Complaint for

14 Forfeiture in Rem on August 6, 2012. Complaint, ECF No. 1. The Complaint (ECF No. 1) alleges the
15 defendant property:
16

a.

was furnished or was intended to be furnished in exchange for controlled

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substances in violation of Title II of the Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. '

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801 et seq., and is subject to forfeiture to the United States pursuant to 21

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U.S.C. ' 881(a)(6);

20

b.

is proceeds traceable to exchanges of controlled substances in violation of Title

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II of the Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. ' 801 et seq., and is subject to

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forfeiture to the United States pursuant to 21 U.S.C. ' 881(a)(6); and;

23

c.

was used or was intended to be used to facilitate violations of Title II of the

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Controlled Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. ' 801 et seq., and is subject to forfeiture

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to the United States pursuant to 21 U.S.C. ' 881(a)(6).

26 . . .
2

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6.

On August 21, 2012, the Court entered an Order for Summons and Warrant of Arrest in

2 Rem for the Property and Notice and issued the Summons and Warrant of Arrest in Rem. Order for
3 Summons and Warrant, ECF No. 3; Summons and Warrant, ECF No. 4.
4

7.

Pursuant to the Order (ECF No. 3), the Complaint (ECF No. 1), the Order (ECF No. 3),

5 the Summons and Warrant (ECF No. 4), and the Notice of Complaint for Forfeiture (ECF No. 9, p. 36 4, 17-18, 32-33 and ECF No. 9-1, p. 7-8, 26-27) were served on the $16,000.00 in United States
7 Currency and all persons claiming an interest in the $16,000.00 in United States Currency. Notice was
8 published according to law.
9

8.

Pursuant to Supplemental Rules for Admiralty or Maritime Claims and Asset Forfeiture

10 Actions (“Fed. R. Civ. P. Supp. Rule”) G(5), all persons interested in the defendant property were
11 required to: (1) file a verified claim, setting forth the person=s or its interest in the property, that (a)
12 identifies the specific interest in the property claimed, (b) identifies the claimant and states the
13 claimant=s interest in the property, and (c) is signed by the claimant under penalty of perjury pursuant
14 to 28 U.S.C. ' 1746; (2) file the verified claim with the Clerk of the above-entitled Court no later than
15 35 days after the notice is sent or, if direct notice was not sent, no later than 60 days after the first day
16 of publication on the official internet government forfeiture site, www.forfeiture.gov; (3) file an
17 answer to the Complaint for Forfeiture in Rem or a motion under Rule 12 with the Clerk of the Court,
18 Lloyd D. George United States Courthouse, 333 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, NV 89101,
19 no later than 21 days after filing the verified claim; and (4) serve a copy of the verified claim and the
20 answer at the time of each filing on Michael A. Humphreys, Assistant United States Attorney, Lloyd
21 D. George United States Courthouse, 333 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Suite 5000, Las Vegas, Nevada
22 89101. Complaint, ECF No. 1; Order for Summons and Warrant, ECF No. 3; Summons and Warrant,
23 ECF No. 4; Notice of Complaint, ECF Nos. 9 and 9-1.
24

9.

Public notice of the forfeiture action and arrest was given to all persons and entities by

25 publication via the official internet government forfeiture site, www.forfeiture.gov, from August 25,
26 2012, through September 23, 2012. Notice of Filing Proof of Publication, ECF No. 5.
3

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1

10.

On September 17, 2012, the United States Marshals Service served the Complaint, the

2 Order, the Summons and Warrant of Arrest in Rem for the Property, and the Notice by executing them
3 on the defendant property. Notice of Filing Service of Process, ECF No. 9, p. 2-15.
4

11.

On October 10, 2012, the United States Marshals Service personally served the

5 Complaint, the Order for Summons and Warrant of Arrest in Rem for the Property and Notice, the
6 Summons and Warrant of Arrest in Rem for the Property, and the Notice of Complaint for Forfeiture
7 and Arrest on David Erwin Mueller, Bruce Nelson, and Joshua John Nelson, by and through their
8 attorney Dennis A. Carmeron. Notice of Filing Service of Process, ECF No. 9, p. 16-29.
9

12.

On October 10, 2012, the United States Marshals Service served the Complaint, the

10 Order for Summons and Warrant of Arrest in Rem for the Property and Notice, the Summons and
11 Warrant of Arrest in Rem for the Property, and the Notice of Complaint for Forfeiture and Arrest on
12 Matthew Aaron Mueller by regular mail. Notice of Filing Service of Process, ECF No. 9, p. 30-44 and
13 ECF No. 9-1, p. 1-19.
14

13.

On October 29, 2012, David Mueller, Bruce Nelson, and Joshua Nelson filed a claim.

15 Claim, ECF No. 6.
16

14.

On October 29, 2012, David Mueller, Bruce Nelson, and Joshua Nelson filed an

17 Answer to the Complaint. Answer, ECF No. 7.
18

15.

On June 24, 2014, the United States filed a Settlement Agreement for Entry of

19 Judgment of Forfeiture as to Claimants, and Order, regarding the $16,000.00 in United States
20 Currency. Claimant waived, among other things, service of process. Settlement Agreement, ECF No.
21 16.
22

16.

On June 25, 2014, the Court entered the Order granting the Settlement Agreement for

23 Entry of Judgment of Forfeiture as to Claimant, and Order. Order Granting Settlement Agreement,
24 ECF No. 18.
25

17.

No other person or entity has filed a claim, answer, or responsive pleading within the

26 time permitted by 18 U.S.C.§ 983(a)(4) and Fed. R. Civ. P. Supp. Rule G(4) and (5).
4

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18.

On July 8, 2014, the United States filed a Motion for Entry of Clerk’s Default against:

2 (1) the $16,000.00 in United States Currency and (2) all persons or entities who claim an interest in the
3 $16,000.00 in United States Currency in the above-entitled action except David Mueller, Bruce
4 Nelson, and Joshua Nelson. Motion for Entry of Clerk’s Default, ECF No. 19.
5

19.

On July 10, 2014, the Clerk of the Court entered a Default against: (1) the $16,000.00

6 in United States Currency and (2) all persons or entities who claim an interest in the $16,000.00 in
7 United States Currency in the above-entitled action except David Mueller, Bruce Nelson, and Joshua
8 Nelson. Entry of Clerk’s Default, ECF No. 20.
9 III. JUDGMENT
10

20.

Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(c) and 55(b), the judgment by default does not “differ in

11 kind from, or exceed [the] amount” of relief listed in the complaint for forfeiture.
12 IV. DEFAULT AND ENTRY OF DEFAULT
13

21.

As shown above, the United States has requested entry of Clerk’s Default against the

14 $16,000.00 in United States Currency and all persons or entities who claim an interest in the
15 $16,000.00 in United States Currency in the above-entitled action except David Mueller, Bruce
16 Nelson, and Joshua Nelson (ECF No. 19). The Clerk entered the Default as requested (ECF No. 20).
17 V. NOTICE
18

22.

Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. Supp. Rule G(4)(a)(iv)(C), the United States published

19 notice via the official internet government forfeiture site, www.forfeiture.gov, for thirty consecutive
20 days. See above. Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. Supp. Rule G(4)(b), the United States served the
21 Complaint, the Order for Summons and Warrant of Arrest in Rem for the Property and Notice, the
22 Summons and Warrant of Arrest in Rem for the Property, and the Notice of Complaint for Forfeiture
23 and Arrest on all known potential claimants. See above.
24 VI. LEGAL SUFFICIENCY OF THE COMPLAINT
25

23.

The Complaint filed in this action was verified.

The Court has subject matter

26 jurisdiction, in rem jurisdiction over the $16,000.00 in United States Currency, and venue. The
5

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1 Complaint described the property with reasonable particularity. The Complaint states where the
2 seizure of the $16,000.00 in United States Currency occurred and its current location. The Complaint
3 identifies the statutes under which the forfeiture action is brought. The Complaint alleges sufficiently
4 detailed facts to support a reasonable belief that the United States will be able to meet its burden proof
5 at trial. See facts above. Complaint, ECF No. 1. Fed. R. Civ. P. Supp. Rule G(2).
6

24

The allegations of the Complaint are sustained by the evidence and are adopted as

7 findings of fact. The Court concludes as a matter of law that the United States is entitled to the relief
8 requested in the Complaint.
9 VII. POTENTIAL CLAIMANTS
10

25.

David Mueller, Bruce Nelson, and Joshua Nelson have entered into a Settlement

11 Agreement with the United States. No other person has filed a claim and the time to file a claim has
12 passed.
13

26.

Based on the foregoing this Court finds that the United States has shown its entitlement

14 to a Default Judgment of Forfeiture as to all persons or entities who claim an interest in the $16,000.00
15 in United States Currency and Final Judgment of Forfeiture as to $16,000.00 in United States
16 Currency and David Mueller, Bruce Nelson, and Joshua Nelson.
17

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that

18 Default Judgment of Forfeiture is entered against all persons or entities who claim an interest in the
19 $16,000.00 in United States Currency in the above-entitled action.
20

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that Final Judgment of

21 Forfeiture is entered against the $16,000.00 in United States Currency and David Mueller, Bruce
22 Nelson, and Joshua Nelson.
23

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that the $16,000.00 in United

24 States Currency be, and the same is hereby forfeited to the United States of America, and no right,
25 title, or interest in the property shall exist in any other party, other than David Mueller, Bruce Nelson,
26 and Joshua Nelson, whose rights and liabilities are adjudged below.
6

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IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDED AND DECREED, that, the property having been

2 forfeited, within a practicable time hereafter for the United States, the United States must release to
3 David Mueller, Bruce Nelson, and Joshua Nelson, through Dennis A. Cameron their counsel, one total
4 payment of $3,000.00 in United States Currency, for all claimants, less any debt owed the United
5 States, any agency of the United States, or any debt in which the United States is authorized to collect.
6

IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2465(a)(2), that there was reasonable

7 cause for the seizure or arrest of the defendant property.
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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July 11, 2014

DATED:___________________________

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