CONSENT JUDGMENT OF FORFEITURE

S. JAMES OTERO, District Judge.

On or about June 17, 2011, Plaintiff United States of America ("the government," "the United States of America" or "plaintiff") filed a Complaint for Forfeiture alleging that the defendant $24,930.00 in U.S. Currency (the "defendant currency") is subject to forfeiture pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(6). Claimant Alex Ghatis Halawi ("claimant") filed a claim to the defendant currency on or about August 18, 2011 and an answer to the Complaint on or about May 14, 2014. Former claimant Mohammed Hasan Farha filed a claim to the defendant currency on or about August 18, 2011 and an answer to the Complaint on or about May 14, 2014. However, former claimant Mohammed Hasan Farha withdrew his claim with prejudice by filing a withdrawal of claim on or about August 25, 2014. Accordingly, former claimant Mohammed Hasan Farha is no longer a party to this action. No other parties have appeared in this case and the time for filing claims and answers has expired.

The government and claimant have now agreed to settle this action without any admission of any wrongdoing and to avoid further litigation by entering into this Consent Judgment of Forfeiture.

The Court, having been duly advised of and having considered the matter, and based upon the mutual consent of the parties hereto,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED:

1. This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this action and the parties to this Consent Judgment of Forfeiture.

2. The Complaint for Forfeiture states a claim for relief pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(6).

3. Notice of this action has been given as required by law. Except for the claim filed by former claimant Mohammed Hasan Farha which was withdrawn with prejudice on or about August 25, 2014, no appearances have been made in the litigation by any person other than claimant. The Court deems that all other potential claimants admit the allegations of the Complaint for Forfeiture to be true.

4. The sum of $5,900.00 only (without interest) shall be returned to claimant. The remainder of the defendant currency (i.e., $19,030.00), plus the interest earned by the United States of America on the defendant currency shall be condemned and forfeited to the United States of America, which shall dispose of those funds in accordance with law.

5. The funds to be returned to claimant pursuant to paragraph 4 above shall be paid to claimant by electronic transfer directly into the client trust account of Jacek W. Lentz, attorney of record for claimant in this case. Claimant (through his attorney of record Jacek W. Lentz, Esq.) shall provide all information and complete all documents requested by the United States of America in order for the United States of America to complete the transfer including, without limitation, providing claimant's social security and taxpayer identification numbers (if any), claimant's attorney of record's taxpayer identification number, and the identity of the bank, the bank's address and the account name, account number, account type and wire transfer routing number for the Jacek W. Lentz client trust account to which the transfer of funds is to be made.

6. Claimant hereby releases the United States of America, its agencies, agents, officers, employees and representatives, including, without limitation, all agents, officers, employees and representatives of the Drug Enforcement Administration or the Department of Justice and their respective agencies, as well as all agents, officers, employees and representatives of any state or local governmental or law enforcement agency involved in the investigation or prosecution of this matter, from any and all claims, actions or liabilities arising out of or related to this action, including, without limitation, any claim for attorney fees, costs and interest, which may be asserted by or on behalf of claimant, whether pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2465 or otherwise.

7. The Court finds that there was reasonable cause for the seizure of the defendant currency and institution of these proceedings. This judgment shall be construed as a certificate of reasonable cause pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2465.

8. The Court further finds that claimant did not substantially prevail in this action, and the parties hereto shall bear their own attorney fees and costs.

CONSENT

The parties hereto consent to the above judgment and waive any right of appeal.