STATUS REPORT AND STIPULATION AND [PROPOSED] ORDER FOR FURTHER STAY OF PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. §§ 981(g)(1) AND (2)

DONNA M. RYU, Magistrate Judge.

IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED by and between Plaintiff UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and Claimant COAST EXPORTS, INC., through their respective counsel, that this matter be stayed pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 981(g).

2. There exists a related federal criminal investigation regarding the principals of the claimant, COAST EXPORTS, INC. Many of the issues and the targets in that investigation are related to this forfeiture proceeding.

3. If this case were to proceed, target's Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination will be burdened in the related criminal case.

4. The provision of 18 U.S.C. § 981(g)(1), provides that "Upon the motion of the United States, the court shall stay the civil forfeiture proceeding if the court determines that civil discovery will adversely affect the ability of the Government to conduct a related criminal investigation. Here, the parties have a agreed that both the Government and the Claimant's principal officers would be adversely affected if the civil case were to proceed. The Government's criminal investigation would be adversely affected by allowing the claimant to take discovery in this matter and allow them to question the Government's witnesses about the ongoing criminal investigation and the Government may be forced to disclose matters prior to the time it would normally have to do so within the confines of a criminal case.

5. The provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 981(g)(2), related to stays of civil forfeiture proceedings, provide that "[u]pon the motion of a claimant, the court shall stay the civil forfeiture proceeding with respect to that claimant if the court determines that (A) the claimant's principal officer is the subject of a related criminal investigation or case; (B) the claimant's principal officers on behalf of COAST EXPORTS, Inc., appear to have standing to assert a claim in the civil forfeiture proceeding; and (C) continuation of the forfeiture proceeding will burden the right of the claimant's officers against self-incrimination in the related criminal investigation or case.

6. Pursuant to the above representations, and the provisions of 18 U.S.C. §§ 981(g)(1) and (2), the parties hereby stipulate and agree to stay this civil forfeiture proceeding until the completion of the criminal investigation, or until such earlier time as either party, or this Court, may request that the matter be heard.

7. The government has executed a federal search warrant at two locations associated with the target's residence and the Claimant's business location. The government is still reviewing the evidence seized from both locations and analyzing the numerous files from the computers.

8. The parties further stipulate and agree that they request this Court continue this matter for 90 days and set a further status report on August 21, 2013.

IT IS SO STIPULATED.

ORDER

IT IS SO ORDERED on this ____ 28 ________ day of ______ May ______, 2013 pursuant to the foregoing stipulation, that the this civil forfeiture proceeding be stayed until the completion of the criminal proceedings in Mendocino County state court or until such earlier time as either party, or this Court, may request that the matter be heard.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED.