ORDER OF DEFAULT JUDGMENT OF FORFEITURE

MAX O. COGBURN, JR., District Judge.

This matter is before the Court on the Government's Motion for Default Judgment of Forfeiture pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2). (Doc. No. 7). The Government requests that the Court enter a Default Judgment of Forfeiture as to all persons and entities with respect to the various electronic items (the "Defendant Property") identified in the Complaint.1 For the reasons set forth below, the Court GRANTS the Government's motion.

On September 18, 2019, the Government filed a Verified Complaint for Forfeiture In Rem ("the Complaint"), alleging that the Defendant Property seized from Larry Limon on or about March 12, 2019, is subject to civil forfeiture under 18 U.S.C. §§ 2253 and 2254. (Doc. No. 1). The same day the Complaint was filed, the Clerk issued a Warrant of Arrest In Rem for the Defendant Property. (Doc. No. 2).

As set forth in the Government's Verified Complaint, beginning in or around 2017, law enforcement obtained information indicating that an individual later identified as Mr. Limon had transmitted images containing child pornography on the Internet. (Doc. 1 at ¶ 12). On March 12, 2019, a federal search warrant was executed at Mr. Limon's residence, located at 25 Bryant Farm Road, Murphy, North Carolina. (Id. at ¶ 13). The Defendant Property was seized from Mr. Limon during the execution of the search warrant. (Id.)

Mr. Limon admitted to law enforcement that he had used his cellular phone to receive images of child pornography. (Id. at ¶ 15). He also explained that he had used the website, TUMBLR.com, to upload approximately 6 or 7 images of child pornography to the Internet. (Id.). In September 2019, a computer forensics analyst with the Homeland Security Investigations ("HSI") completed an analysis of the Defendant Property, which supported the Government's position that the Defendant Property contains child pornography obtained from the Internet and/or was used to search for and access child pornography on the Internet. (Id. at ¶ 16).

Following the seizure, HSI initiated administrative forfeiture of the Defendant Property. (Id. at ¶ 3). After the Government filed its Complaint, in accordance with Rule G(4)(b) of the Supplemental Rules for Admiralty or Maritime Claims and Asset Forfeiture Actions, the Government provided direct notice of this action to known potential claimants. Specifically, on September 20, 2019, the Government mailed notice and a copy of the Complaint to Mr. Limon and his wife Ruth Limon at their address of record, as well as to Mr. Limon's attorney at his address of record. Additionally, in accordance with Supplemental Rule G(4)(a), the Government provided notice by publication as to all persons with potential claims to the Defendant Property by publishing notice via www.forfeiture.gov from September 20, 2019, until October 19, 2019. (Doc. No. 4).

The Government has taken reasonable steps to provide notice to known potential claimants, and the Government has otherwise complied with the notice requirements set forth in Supplemental Rule G(4). During the pendency of this action, no individual or entity has made a timely claim to the Defendant Property.

On February 19, 2020, the Government filed a motion requesting that the Clerk enter default as to all persons and entities with respect to the Defendant Property. (Doc. No. 5). On February 26, 2020, the Clerk entered default. (Doc. No. 6). After careful review, the Court finds that the Government has established that Default Judgment is appropriate. Accordingly, the Court hereby ORDERS that:

1. The Government's Motion for Default Judgment of Forfeiture (Doc. No. 7), is hereby GRANTED, and judgment is entered in favor of the United States against all persons and entities with respect to the Defendant Property identified in the Complaint.

2. It is FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that any right, title and interest of all persons and entities to the Defendant Property identified in the Complaint is hereby forfeited to the United States, and no other right, title, or interest shall exist therein.

3. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that the United States Marshal is hereby directed to dispose of the Defendant Property identified in the Complaint as provided by law.