United States of America v. Peters et al

Filing 36

ORDER granting 34 Motion for Reconsideration. Signed by Chief Judge James C. Dever III on 9/17/2017. (Hayes, Lyndsay)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
WESTERN DIVISION
No. 5:17-CV-349-D

IN RE: ASSETS OF STEPHEN PETERS,
AMY PETERS, VISIONQUEST WEALTH LLC,
VISIONQUEST WEALTH MANAGEMENT LLC,
AND VISIONQUEST CAPITAL LLC,

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ORDER

On September 15, 2017, the government filed under seal a supplemental declaration of
Special Agent David Harding of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

See [D.E. 30]. The

supplemental declaration provides detailed information concerning the ongoing fraud investigation
of Stephen Peters, Amy Peters, Visionquest Wealth LLC, Visionquest Wealth Management LLC,
and Visionquest Capital LLC. See id. The government has provided the supplemental declaration
to counsel for Stephen Peters and Amy Peters, and counsel can use the supplemental declaration to
prepare for the hearing on September 22, 2017. C£ [D.E. 28] 5-17; [D.E. 29].
This court did not have the benefit of the supplemental declaration [D.E. 30] or the
government's reply [D.E. 32] when it signed its order of September 15, 2017. See [D.E. 33]. The
court has reviewed the supplemental declaration of Special Agent Harding at docket entry 30 and
his declaration at docket entry 14. The government's motion for reconsideration [D.E. 34] is
GRANTED, and it need not provide the declaration of Special Agent Harding at docket entry 14 to
counsel for Stephen Peters and Amy Peters.

See,~' Am. Civil Liberties Union v. Holder, 673 F.3d

245, 253 (4th Cir. 2011) ("The United States has a compelling interest in protecting the integrity of
ongoing fraud investigations."); Va. Dept. of State Police v. Washington Post, 386 F.3d 567, 579
(4th Cir. 2004) (same). Providing the supplemental declaration at docket entry 30 to counsel permits

counsel to prepare for the hearing on September 22, 2017. At the same time, not providing the
declaration at docket entry 14 protects the integrity of the ongoing fraud investigation by, for
example, not revealing the identity of cooperating witnesses.

Moreover, not providing the

declaration at docket entry 14 mitigates against possible obstruction of justice.
SO ORDERED. This ....!..1_ day of September 2017.

Chief United States District Judge

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