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U.S. v. APPROXIMATELY $4,023.00 IN U.S. CURRENCY, 2:09-CV-00111-JAM-CKD. (2013)

Court: District Court, E.D. California Number: infdco20131223694 Visitors: 4
Filed: Dec. 20, 2013
Latest Update: Dec. 20, 2013
Summary: FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORFEITURE JOHN A. MENDEZ, District Judge. Pursuant to the Stipulation for Final Judgment of Forfeiture, the Court finds: 1. This is a civil forfeiture action against the above captioned assets (hereafter "defendant properties") seized on or about August 13, 2008. 2. A Verified Complaint for Forfeiture In Rem ("Complaint") was filed on January 13, 2009, alleging that the above captioned defendant properties are subject to forfeiture to the United States pursuant to 18 U.S
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FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORFEITURE

JOHN A. MENDEZ, District Judge.

Pursuant to the Stipulation for Final Judgment of Forfeiture, the Court finds:

1. This is a civil forfeiture action against the above captioned assets (hereafter "defendant properties") seized on or about August 13, 2008.

2. A Verified Complaint for Forfeiture In Rem ("Complaint") was filed on January 13, 2009, alleging that the above captioned defendant properties are subject to forfeiture to the United States pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §§ 981(a)(1)(C) and 2344(c).

3. On or about January 14, 2009, the Clerk issued a Warrant for Arrest for the defendant properties, and that warrant was executed on January 15, 2009, and May 22, 2009.

4. Beginning on January 21, 2009, for at least thirty consecutive days, the United States published Notice of the Forfeiture Action on the official internet government forfeiture site www.forfeiture.gov. A Declaration of Publication was filed on February 25, 2009.

5. In addition to the public notice on the official internet government forfeiture site www.forfeiture.gov, actual notice or attempted notice was given to the following individuals or entities:

a. Raed Mouri b. George Bittar c. Wanda Bittar d. Charles Gerken e. Phoenix Cash & Carry

6. Claimants Phoenix Cash & Carry, LLC; Raed "Roy" Mouri; George Bittar; and Ideal Tobacco Wholesale, Inc. ("Claimants"), filed Verified Claims on February 17, 2009. This case has been stayed by Court Order pending the resolution of the related criminal case, United States v. Raed Mouri and George Bittar, 2:13-CR-00261-JAM. No other parties have filed claims or answers in this matter, and the time in which any person or entity may file a claim and answer has expired.

7. On April 14, 2009, a Stipulation and Order for Interlocutory Sale of Defendant Tobacco Products was entered authorizing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to sell the defendant tobacco products identified in the caption above.

8. The Clerk of the Court entered a Clerk's Certificate of Entry of Default against Charles Gerken on May 29, 2009. The Clerk of the Court entered a Clerk's Certificate of Entry of Default against Wanda Bittar on December 16, 2013. Pursuant to Local Rule 540, the United States requests that as part of this Final Judgment of Forfeiture the Court enter a default judgment against the interests, if any, of Charles

Gerken and Wanda Bittar without further notice.

Based on the above findings, and the files and records of the Court, it is hereby ORDERED AND ADJUDGED:

1. The Court adopts the Stipulation for Final Judgment of Forfeiture entered into by and between the parties to this action.

2. That judgment is hereby entered against Claimants Phoenix Cash & Carry, LLC; Raed "Roy" Mouri; George Bittar; and Ideal Tobacco Wholesale, Inc., and all other potential claimants who have not filed claims in this action.

3. Upon entry of this Final Judgment of Forfeiture, all right, title, and interest of Claimants Phoenix Cash & Carry, LLC; Raed "Roy" Mouri; George Bittar; and Ideal Tobacco Wholesale, Inc. in the following defendant properties, together with any interest that may have accrued, shall be forfeited to the United States pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §§ 981(a)(1)(C) and 2344(c), to be disposed of according to law:

a. Approximately $4,023.00 in U.S. Currency, b. Approximately $1,280.00 in U.S. Currency, c. Approximately $6,268.00 in U.S. Currency, d. Approximately $5,510.00 in U.S. Currency, and e. Approximately $14,206.37 in net proceeds from the sale of the approximately 169 Boxes of Smokeless Tobacco.

4. The United States and its servants, agents, and employees and all other public entities, their servants, agents, and employees, are released from any and all liability arising out of or in any way connected with the seizure, arrest, sale, or forfeiture of the defendant properties. This is a full and final release applying to all unknown and unanticipated injuries, and/or damages arising out of said seizure, arrest, sale, or forfeiture, as well as to those now known or disclosed. The parties waived the provisions of California Civil Code 1542.

5. Claimants waived any and all claim or right to interest that may have accrued on the defendant funds being forfeited to the United States.

6. All parties are to bear their own costs and attorney's fees.

7. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, Hon. John A. Mendez, District Judge, shall retain jurisdiction to enforce the terms of this Final Judgment of Forfeiture.

SO ORDERED.

Source:  Leagle

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