Opinion
20 Cr. 054 (AJN)
09-02-2021
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. TAFARI GORDON, a/k/a “Ras Tafari Bey, ” Defendant.
Audrey Strauss United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jacob Gutwillig Elizabeth Espinosa Assistant United States Attorney Tafari Gordon Jenna M. Dabbs, Esq. Attorney for Defendant Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP
Audrey Strauss
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York
Jacob Gutwillig
Elizabeth Espinosa
Assistant United States Attorney
Tafari Gordon
Jenna M. Dabbs, Esq.
Attorney for Defendant
Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP
CONSENT PRELIMINARY ORDER OF FORFEITURE AS TO SPECIFIC PROPERTY/ MONEY JUDGMENT
ALISON J. NATHAN, U.S.D.J.
WHEREAS, on or about January 21, 2020, TAFARI GORDON a/k/a “Ras Tafari Bey” (the “Defendant”), was charged in an one-count Indictment, 20 Cr. 054 (AJN) (the “Indictment”), with narcotics conspiracy, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846 (Count One);
WHEREAS, the Indictment included a forfeiture allegation as to Count One of the Indictment, seeking forfeiture to the United States, pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853, of any and all property constituting, or derived from, any proceeds obtained, directly or indirectly, as a result of the offense charged in Count One of the Indictment and any and all property used, or intended to be used, in any manner or part, to commit, or to facilitate the commission of the offense charged in Count One of the Indictment, including but not limited to a sum of money in United States currency representing the amount of proceeds traceable to the commission of the offense charged in Count One of the Indictment;
WHEREAS, on December 19, 2019 $14, 980 was seized from the Defendant's vehicle in New York, New York (the “Seized Currency”);
WHEREAS, on or about November 19, 2020 the Defendant pled guilty to Count One of the Indictment, pursuant to a plea agreement with the Government, wherein the Defendant admitted the forfeiture allegation with respect to Count One of the Indictment and agreed to forfeit to the United States, pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853, a sum of money in United States currency, representing any and all property constituting or derived from any proceeds the Defendant obtained directly or indirectly, and any and all property used or intended to be used in any manner or part to commit and to facilitate the commission of the offense alleged in Count One of the Indictment; and
WHEREAS, the Defendant consents to the entry of a money judgment in the amount of $150 in United States currency representing the amount of proceeds traceable to the offense charged in Count One of the Indictment; and
WHEREAS, the Defendant further consents to the forfeiture of $150 of the Seized Currency (the “Specific Property”), which constitutes proceeds of the offense charged in Count One of the Indictment; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(g), and Rules 32.2(b)(3), and 32.2(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Government is now entitled, pending any assertion of third-party claims, to reduce the Specific Property to its possession and to notify any and all persons who reasonably appear to be a potential claimant of their interest herein;
IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED AND AGREED, by and between the United States of America, by its attorney Audrey Strauss, United States Attorney, Assistant United States Attorney, Jacob Guttwillig of counsel, and the Defendant, TAFARI GORDON and his counsel, Jenna M. Dabbs, Esq., that:
1. Asa result of the offense charged in Count One of the Indictment, to which the Defendant pled guilty, a money judgment in the amount of $150 in United States currency (the “Money Judgment”), representing the amount of proceeds traceable to the offense charged in Count One of the Indictment, shall be entered against the Defendant.
2. As a result of the offense charged in Count One of the Indictment, to which the Defendant pled guilty, all of the Defendant's right, title and interest in the Specific Property is hereby forfeited to the United States for disposition in accordance with the law, subject to the provisions of Title 21, United States Code, Section 853.
3. The Government shall return the remaining $14, 830 of the Seized Currency in a manner consistent with the United States Marshals Service Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Form to be completed by Defendant through his attorney, Jenna M. Dabbs, Esq.
4. Pursuant to Rule 32.2(b)(4) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, this Consent Preliminary Order of Forfeiture as to Specific Property/Money Judgment is final as to the Defendant, TAFARI GORDON a/k/a “Ras Tafari Bey, ” and shall be deemed part of the sentence of the Defendant, and shall be included in thejudgment of conviction therewith.
5. All payments on the outstanding Money Judgment shall be made by postal money order, bank or certified check, made payable to the United States Marshals Service, and delivered by mail to the United States Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York, Attn: Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit, One St. Andrew's Plaza, New York, New York 10007 and shall indicate the Defendant's name and case number.
6. The United States Marshals Service is authorized to deposit the payments on the Money Judgment in the Assets Forfeiture Fund, and the United States shall have clear title to such forfeited property.
7. Upon entry of this Consent Preliminary Order of Forfeiture as to Specific Property/Money Judgment, the United States (or its designee) is hereby authorized to take possession of the Specific Property and to hold such property in its secure custody and control.
8. Pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(n)(1), Rule 32.2(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Rules G(4)(a)(iv)(C) and G(5)(a)(ii) of the Supplemental Rules for Certain Admiralty and Maritime Claims and Asset Forfeiture Actions, the United States is permitted to publish forfeiture notices on the government internet site, www.forfeiture.gov. This site incorporates the forfeiture notices that have been traditionally published in newspapers. The United States forthwith shall publish the internet ad for at least thirty (30) consecutive days. Any person, other than the Defendant, claiming interest in the Specific Property must file a Petition within sixty (60) days from the first day of publication of the Notice on this official government internet web site, or no later than thirty-five (35) days from the mailing of actual notice, whichever is earlier.
9. The published notice of forfeiture shall state that the petition (i) shall be for a hearing to adjudicate the validity of the petitioner's alleged interest in the Specific Property, (ii) shall be signed by the petitioner under penalty of perjury, and (iii) shall set forth the nature and extent of the petitioner's right, title or interest in the Specific Property, the time and circumstances of the petitioner's acquisition of the right, title and interest in the Specific Property, any additional facts supporting the petitioner's claim, and the relief sought, pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(n).
10. Pursuant to 32.2 (b)(6)(A) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Government shall send notice to any person who reasonably appears to be a potential claimant with standing to contest the forfeiture in the ancillary proceeding.
11. Upon adjudication of all third-party interests, this Court will enter a Final Order of Forfeiture with respect to the Specific Property pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(n), in which all interests will be addressed. All Specific Property forfeited to the United States under a Final Order of Forfeiture shall be applied towards the satisfaction of the Money Judgment.
12. Pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(p), the United States is authorized to seek forfeiture of substitute assets of the Defendant up to the uncollected amount of the Money Judgment.
13. Pursuant to Rule 32.2(b)(3) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the United States Attorney's Office is authorized to conduct any discovery needed to identify, locate or dispose of forfeitable property, including depositions, interrogatories, requests for production of documents and the issuance of subpoenas.
14. The Court shall retainjurisdiction to enforce this Consent Preliminary Order of Forfeiture as to Specific Property/Money Judgment, and to amend it as necessary, pursuant to Rule 32.2 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.
15. The Clerk of the Court shall forward three certified copies of this Consent Preliminary Order of Forfeiture as to Specific Property/Money Judgment to Assistant United States Attorney Alexander J. Wilson, Co-Chief of the Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit, United States Attorney's Office, One St. Andrew's Plaza, New York, New York 10007.
16. The signature page of this Consent Preliminary Order of Forfeiture as to Specific Property/Money Judgment may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.
SO ORDERED.