United States of America v. Approximately $17,242.30 U.S. Currency

Filing 31

FINAL ORDER OF FORFEITURE - granted 30 MOTION for Forfeiture of Property RE Entry of a Final Order of Forfeiture filed by United States of America. Signed by Judge Salvador Mendoza, Jr. (VR, Courtroom Deputy)

Download PDF
1 FILED IN THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON 2 Sep 27, 2017 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON 3 SEAN F. MCAVOY, CLERK 4 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, No. 2:17-CV-0097-SMJ 5 Plaintiff, FINAL ORDER OF FORFEITURE 6 v. 7 8 APPROXIMATELY $17,242.30 U.S. CURRENCY, Defendant. 9 10 Before the Court, without oral argument, is the United States of America’s 11 Motion for Entry of a Final Order of Forfeiture. ECF No. 30. The defendants in the 12 related criminal case, United States v. Sutton, No. 2:16-cr-00136-SMJ (E.D. 13 Wash.), have entered into plea agreements with the government in that matter, and 14 they stipulate that the currency at issue here is subject to civil forfeiture pursuant to 15 21 U.S.C. § 881. ECF No. 30-1, 30-2. Having considered the pleadings and file in 16 this matter, the Court is fully informed and GRANTS the United States’ motion 17 and enters the following Final Order of Forfeiture: 18 Plaintiff, the United States of America, alleged in a Verified Complaint for 19 Forfeiture In Rem and in an Amended Verified Complaint for Forfeiture In Rem 20 FINAL ORDER OF FORFEITURE - 1 1 that the Defendant currency captioned above is subject to forfeiture to the United 2 States pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 881. ECF No. 1 and 2 3 4 The Court has jurisdiction over this matter by virtue of 28 U.S.C. § 1355 and 1355. Venue is proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1355. 5 The Defendant property being sought for forfeiture is described as follows: 6 1) Approximately $344.30 U.S. currency seized on or about September 15, 2016, by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and, 7 8 2) Approximately $278.00 and $16,620.00 U.S. currency seized on or about September 23, 2016, by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 9 On March 22, 2017, the United States Marshals Service executed the 10 Warrant of Arrest In Rem. The returned warrant was filed with the Court under the 11 above cause number on March 22, 2017. ECF No. 6. 12 In accordance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure G(4)(a)(iv)(C), 13 Supplemental Rules for Admiralty or Maritime Claims and Asset Forfeiture 14 Actions, notice of civil forfeiture was posted on an official government website 15 www.forfeiture.gov beginning March 23, 2017 and running through April 21, 16 2017. ECF No. 12, 12-1 and 12-2. Based upon the internet publication start date of 17 March 23, 2017, the last date to file a timely claim if direct notice was not 18 received was May 22, 2017. 19 20 On March 23, 2017, KENNETH L. STONE was sent a copy of the Verified Complaint for Forfeiture In Rem, ECF No. 1, the Amended Verified Complaint FINAL ORDER OF FORFEITURE - 2 1 for Forfeiture In Rem, ECF No. 2, the executed Warrant of Arrest In Rem, ECF 2 No. 6, and Notice of Complaint for Forfeiture, via certified mail, return receipt 3 requested, at his last known address and in care of his attorney. ECF No. 10 & 10- 4 1. On April 27, 2017, STONE filed an Answer. ECF No. 7. On June 2, 2017, 5 STONE filed a late Claim. ECF No. 19. 6 On July 25, 2017, KENNETH L. STONE entered into a Plea Agreement in 7 the Eastern District of Washington related criminal case United States v. Kenneth 8 L. Stone, Case No.: 2:16-CR-136-SMJ-2. ECF No. 145. In his Plea Agreement, 9 STONE acknowledged that the United States would meet its burden to prove that 10 the currency is subject to forfeiture as property either facilitating illegal conduct or 11 it represents proceeds obtained in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841 and is forfeitable 12 under 21 U.S.C. § 881. Id. at ¶ 14. In addition, STONE agreed to voluntarily 13 forfeit and relinquish any and all right, title and interest he has in the currency to 14 the United States. He also agreed not to contest the civil judicial forfeiture of the 15 currency and to sign a stipulation withdrawing any claim and/or answer filed in 16 this civil forfeiture action. 17 On March 23, 2017, CHERYL SUTTON was sent a copy of the Verified 18 Complaint for Forfeiture In Rem, ECF No. 1, the Amended Verified Complaint 19 for Forfeiture In Rem, ECF No. 2, the executed Warrant of Arrest In Rem, ECF 20 No. 6, and Notice of Complaint for Forfeiture, via certified mail, return receipt FINAL ORDER OF FORFEITURE - 3 1 requested, at her last known address and in care of her attorney. ECF No. 11 and 2 11-1. On April 27, 2017, SUTTON filed an Answer, ECF No. 7. To date, no claim 3 has been received from SUTTON. 4 On July 25, 2017, CHERYL L. SUTTON entered into a Plea Agreement in 5 the Eastern District of Washington related criminal case United States v. Cheryl L. 6 Sutton, Case No.: 2:16-CR-136-SMJ-1. ECF No. 144. In her Plea Agreement, 7 SUTTON acknowledged that the United States would meet its burden to prove 8 that the currency is subject to forfeiture as property either facilitating illegal 9 conduct or it represents proceeds obtained in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841 and is 10 forfeitable under 21 U.S.C. § 881. Id. at ¶ 14. In addition, SUTTON agreed to 11 voluntarily forfeit and relinquish any and all right, title and interest she has in the 12 currency to the United States. She also agreed not to contest the civil judicial 13 forfeiture of the currency and to sign a stipulation withdrawing any claim and/or 14 answer filed in this civil forfeiture action. 15 16 No other timely claims to the Defendant currency have been received or filed with the Court, and the deadline for filing timely claims has passed. 17 Claim(s) to the Defendant currency have been resolved as described herein. 18 It appearing to the Court that the claimants interest(s) in the Defendant 19 currency have been resolved, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED: 20 FINAL ORDER OF FORFEITURE - 4 1 1. The Defendant currency described as follows is hereby forfeited to the 2 United States of America, and no right, title, or interest shall exist in 3 any other person. 4 A. Approximately $344.30 U.S. currency seized on or about 5 September 15, 2016, by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; 6 and, B. 7 Approximately $278.00 and $16,620.00 U.S. currency seized on 8 or about September 23, 2016, by the Federal Bureau of 9 Investigation. 10 2. currency described herein in accordance with law. 11 12 The United States Marshals Service shall dispose of the forfeited 3. This Court shall retain jurisdiction in the case for the purpose of enforcing or amending this order. 13 14 4. The Clerk’s office shall CLOSE this case. 15 5. All deadlines and hearings set in this matter are STRICKEN. 16 IT IS SO ORDERED. The Clerk’s Office is directed to enter this Order and 17 18 19 20 provide copies to all counsel. DATED this 27th day of September 2017. __________________________ SALVADOR MENDOZA, JR. United States District Judge FINAL ORDER OF FORFEITURE - 5

Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.


Why Is My Information Online?