Opinion
21CR1559-H
12-01-2021
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. DENNIS JONES (4), Defendant.
PRELIMINARY ORDER OF CRIMINAL FORFEITURE
HONORABLE MARILYN L. HUFF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
WHEREAS, in the Indictment in the above-captioned case, the United States sought forfeiture of all right, title and interest in specific property of Defendant DENNIS JONES (“Defendant”), pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 853(a)(1) and (a)(2) as property constituting, and derived from, any proceeds Defendant obtained directly or indirectly, as the result of the violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(1)(1) and 846; and forfeiture pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 982(a)(1) as property involved in the violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h), as charged in the Indictment; and
WHEREAS, on or about September 2, 2021, Defendant pled guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Magistrate S. Berg to Counts 1 and 2 of the Indictment, which pleas included consent to the forfeiture allegation of the Indictment, including forfeiture of all properties seized in connection with this case, including the following: $11,610.00 in U.S. Currency; and
WHEREAS, on September 17, 2021 this Court accepted the guilty pleas of Defendant; and
WHEREAS, by virtue of the facts set forth in the plea agreement, the United States has established the requisite nexus between the forfeited property and the offense; and
WHEREAS, by virtue of said guilty pleas, the United States is now entitled to possession of the above-referenced currency, pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 853, 18 U.S.C. § 982, and Rule 32.2(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Rule 32.2(b), the United States having requested the authority to take custody of the currency which was found forfeitable by the Court; and
WHEREAS, the United States, having submitted the Order herein to the Defendant through his attorney of record, to review, and no objections having been received;
Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED:
1. Based upon the guilty pleas of the Defendant, the United States is hereby authorized to take custody and control of the following asset, and all right, title and interest of Defendant DENNIS JONES in the following asset are hereby forfeited to the United States for disposition in accordance with the law, subject to the provisions of 21 U.S.C. § 853(n): $11,610.00 in U.S. Currency.
2. The aforementioned forfeited currency is to be held by the United States Marshals Service in its secure custody and control.
3. Pursuant to Rule 32.2(b) and (c), the United States is hereby authorized to begin proceedings consistent with any statutory requirements pertaining to ancillary hearings and rights of third parties. The Court shall conduct ancillary proceedings as the Court deems appropriate only upon the receipt of timely third-party petitions filed with the Court and served upon the United States. The Court may determine any petition without the need for further hearings upon the receipt of the Government's response to any petition. The Court may enter an amended order without further notice to the parties.
4. Pursuant to the Attorney General's authority under Section 853(n)(1) of Title 21, United States Code, Rule 32.2(b)(6), Fed. R. Crim. P., and Rule G(4) of the Supplemental Rules for Admiralty or Maritime Claims and Asset Forfeiture Actions, the United States forthwith shall publish for thirty (30) consecutive days on the Government's forfeiture website, www.forfeiture.gov, notice of this Order, notice of the United States' intent to dispose of the currency in such manner as the Attorney General may direct, and notice that any person, other than the Defendant, having or claiming a legal interest in the above-listed forfeited currency must file a petition with the Court within thirty (30) days of the final publication of notice or of receipt of actual notice, whichever is earlier.
5. This notice shall state that the petition shall be for a hearing to adjudicate the validity of the petitioner's alleged interest in the currency, shall be signed by the petitioner under penalty of perjury, and shall set forth the nature and extent of the petitioner's right, title or interest in the forfeited currency and any additional facts supporting the petitioner's claim and the relief sought.
6. The United States shall also, to the extent practicable, provide direct written notice to any person known to have alleged an interest in the currency that is the subject of the Preliminary Order of Criminal Forfeiture, as a substitute for published notice as to those persons so notified.
7. Upon adjudication of all third-party interests, this Court will enter an Amended Order of Forfeiture pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 853(n) as to the above-referenced assets, in which all interests will be addressed.
8. Pursuant to Rule 32.2(b)(4), this Order of Forfeiture shall be made final as to the Defendant at the time of sentencing and is part of the sentence and included in the judgment.
IT IS SO ORDERED.