UNITED STATES' REQUEST TO EXTEND THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT A JOINT STATUS REPORT FROM MAY 15, 2019 TO JULY 10, 2019

JENNIFER L. THURSTON, Magistrate Judge.

The United States submits the following Request to Extend the Deadline to file a Joint Status Report from May 15, 2019 to July 10, 2019.

Introduction

On October 17, 2018, the United States filed a civil forfeiture complaint in rem against the above-captioned assets ("defendant assets"), based on their involvement in federal drug law violations. The United States has discovered and is in the midst of serving all known potential claimants to the defendant assets in a manner consistent with Dusenbery v. United States, 534 U.S. 161, 168 (2002) and the applicable statutory authority. Additionally, public notice on the official internet government forfeiture site, www.forfeiture.gov, began on December 13, 2018, and ran for thirty consecutive days, as required by Rule G(4)(a)(iv)(C) of the Supplemental Rules for Admiralty or Maritime Claims and Asset Forfeiture Actions. The government has completed its publication requirements and a declaration in support was filed with the Court on January 14, 2019. See ECF No. 9.

Further, the government has posted the forfeiture complaint at the defendant property in Bakersfield, California. See ECF No. 11. The government's posting of the property is required pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 985 and is now complete.

Good Cause

The United States has provided notice to all potential claimants pursuant to law, has posted the complaint at the defendant property, and published notice on the internet. Specifically, the United States served the complaint documents on potential claimants Suhailia Salaman Kamar, Grace Michel Kamar, Issa Mikhael Kamar, Waheed Boktor, and G.I.J. Investement Group, Inc. by certified and first class mail, as well as personal service.

Counsel for Suhailia Kamar and a number of related entities has contacted the government concerning filing a claim and answer in this case. As set forth in the complaint, Ms. Kamar's husband passed away while awaiting trial on criminal charges in the Eastern District of California. Ms. Kamar's counsel requested an extension of time to file a claim and answer so that they could gather sufficient documentation concerning the businesses and Mr. Kamar's affairs, as well as reconcile their corporate existent so that the corporations that own the some of the assets could be recognized as a claimant under federal forfeiture law.

On April 24, 2019, the Kamar parties requested an additional extension to file their claim, representing the need for additional time to obtain, review, organize, analyze, and clarify all the issues relevant to the passing of the potential claimant's husband, which include re-filing business documents with the California Secretary of State. The government agreed that Ms. Kamar and any related entities could have additional time to file their claim, but explained that this latest extension would be the last. Their current deadline to file a claim is June 12, 2019.

This brief extension to the joint status report deadline will allow Ms. Kamar to continue her document collection efforts and potentially enter the case. For these reasons, the United States seeks to continue the deadline to file a Joint Status Report to July 10, 2019 (or to another date the Court deems appropriate).

As explained above, the request is based on the request by the primary potential claimant to the assets and will allow her and/or her entities to enter the case to assert any rights they may have. Therefore, good cause exists to extend the deadline to file a joint status report in this case from May 15, 2019 to July 10, 2019, or to a date the Court deems appropriate

[PROPOSED] ORDER

Pursuant to the United States' request and good cause appearing, the Court makes the following order: The deadline to file a Joint Status Report currently due on May 15, 2019 is extended to July 10, 2019. The Mandatory Scheduling Conference is continued from May 28, 2019 to July 16, 2019.

IT IS SO ORDERED.