Opinion
BENJAMIN B. WAGNER, United States Attorney, KEVIN C. KHASIGIAN, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Sacramento, CA, Attorneys for the United States.
AMENDED FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORFEITURE
LAWRENCE K. KARLTON, District Judge.
The United States hereby requests this Amended Final Judgment of Forfeiture ("AFJF") to amend the Final Judgment of Forfeiture ("FJF") entered on March 8, 2013, because the order did not include the recorded owner, Sparky's Cherokee Estates, LLC, of the real properties. Sparky's Cherokee Estates, LLC is owned by Charles M. Hilkey, Jr. Other than the recorded owner changes, which are explained in a footnote below, no other changes have been made to the Court's original Final Judgment of Forfeiture.
1. This is a civil forfeiture action against the following real properties:
(a) Real property located in Nevada County, California, APN: XX-XXX-XX, including all appurtenances and improvements thereto;
(b) Real property located in Nevada County, California, APN: XX-XXX-XX, including all appurtenances and improvements thereto;
(c) Real property located in Nevada County, California, Original APN: XX-XXX-XX, currently known as APN: XX-XXX-XX, APN: XX-XXX-XX and APN: XX-XXX-XX, including all appurtenances and improvements thereto; and,
(d) Real property located in Nevada County, California, APN: XX-XXX-XX, including all appurtenances and improvements thereto.
(hereafter "defendant real properties") and more fully described as:
PARCEL ONE:
Lots 2, Block 3, as shown on the Official Map of Townsite of Cherokee filed in the Office of the County Recorder of the County of Nevada, State of California on December 31, 1874.
Assessor's Parcel No. 61-160-02
PARCEL TWO:
Lot 3, Block 3, as shown on the Official Map of the Townsite of Cherokee filed in the Office of the County Recorder of the County of Nevada, State of California on December 31, 1874.
Assessor's Parcel No. 61-160-03
PARCEL THREE:
Lots 4, 5 and 6, Block 3, as shown on the Official Map of the Townsite of Cherokee filed in the Office of the County Recorder of the County of Nevada, State of California on December 31, 1874.
Assessor's Parcel No. 61-160-04
PARCEL FOUR:
Lot 8, Block 3, as shown on the Official Map of the Townsite of Cherokee filed in the Office of the County Recorder of the County of Nevada, State of California on December 31, 1874.
Assessor's Parcel No. 61-160-06
2. A Verified Complaint for Forfeiture In Rem ("Complaint") was filed on November 3, 2009, alleging that said defendant real properties are subject to forfeiture to the United States of America pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(A), 31 U.S.C. § 5317(c)(2) and 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(6). The recorded owner of the real properties is Sparky's Cherokee Estates, LLC. Sparky's Cherokee Estates, LLC is owned by Charles M. Hilkey, Jr.
The Final Judgment of Forfeiture entered on March 8, 2013 did not include the titled interest of Sparky's Cherokee Estates, LLC, a company solely owned by Charles M. Hilkey Jr. in the defendant properties.
3. On November 13, 2009, all of the defendant real properties were posted with a copy of the Complaint and Notice of Complaint.
4. Beginning on January 23, 2010, for at least 30 consecutive days, the United States published Notice of the Forfeiture Action on the official internet government forfeiture site www.forfeiture.gov. A Declaration of Publication was filed on February 22, 2010.
5. In addition to the public notice on the official internet government forfeiture site www.forfeiture.gov, actual notice or attempted notice was given to the following individual(s): Charles M. Hilkey, Jr.
6. Claimant Charles M. Hilkey, Jr. filed a claim alleging an interest in all of the defendant real properties on January 29, 2010. No other parties have filed claims or answers in this matter, and the time for which any person or entity may file a claim and answer has expired.
Based on the above findings, and the files and records of the Court, it is hereby
ORDERED AND ADJUDGED:
1. The Court adopts the Stipulation for Final Judgment of Forfeiture entered into by and between the parties to this action.
2. That judgment is hereby entered against claimant Charles M. Hilkey, Jr., as sole owner of Sparky's Cherokee Estates, LLC, and all other potential claimants who have not filed claims in this action.
3. All right, title and interest of Charles M. Hilkey, Jr. as sole owner of Sparky's Cherokee Estates, LLC in the following defendant real properties shall be forfeited to the United States pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(A), 31 U.S.C. § 5317(c)(2) and 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(6):
(a) Real property located in Nevada County, California, APN: XX-XXX-XX, including all appurtenances and improvements thereto;
(b) Real property located in Nevada County, California, APN: XX-XXX-XX, including all appurtenances and improvements thereto;
(c) Real property located in Nevada County, California, Original APN: XX-XXX-XX, currently known as APN: XX-XXX-XX, APN: XX-XXX-XX and APN: XX-XXX-XX, including all appurtenances and improvements thereto; and,
(d) Real property located in Nevada County, California, APN: XX-XXX-XX, including all appurtenances and improvements thereto.
4. The Internal Revenue Service (or a designee) shall list the defendant real properties listed above in paragraph 3(a)-(d) for sale. The Internal Revenue Service shall have sole authority to select the means of sale, including sale by internet or through a licensed real estate broker, and shall have sole authority over the marketing and sale of the defendant real properties.
5. The Internal Revenue Service shall have the defendant real properties appraised by a licensed appraiser of its choosing. The Internal Revenue Service and the appraiser may have access to the defendant real properties upon 24 hours telephonic notice.
6. If necessary, the Internal Revenue Service, and any real estate broker employed by the Internal Revenue Service, shall have the right to put a "lock box" on the properties to facilitate the marketing and sale of the properties.
7. The following costs, expenses and distributions shall be paid in escrow from the gross sales price in the following priority and to the extent funds are available:
(a) The costs incurred by the Internal Revenue Service to the date of close of escrow, including the cost of posting, service, advertising, and maintenance.
(b) Any unpaid real property taxes, which shall be prorated as of the date of the entry of the Amended Final Judgment of Forfeiture.
(c) A real estate commission not to exceed the Internal Revenue Service contractual brokerage fee.
(d) The seller shall pay any county transfer taxes.
(e) To the United States of America: the net proceeds from the sale of the real properties. All right, title, and interest in said funds shall be substituted for the defendant real properties and forfeited to the United States pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(A), 31 U.S.C. § 5317(c)(2) and 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(6), to be disposed of according to law.
8. Any liens or encumbrances against the defendant real properties that appear on record subsequent to the recording of plaintiff's lis pendens on November 10, 2009, and prior to the close of escrow may be paid out of escrow. The United States may pay any such lien or encumbrance at its sole discretion.
9. The costs of a lender's policy of title insurance (ALTA policy) shall be paid for by the buyer.
10. All loan fees, "points" and other costs of obtaining financing shall be paid for by the buyer of the defendant properties.
11. Each party shall execute all documents necessary to close escrow, if such signatures are required by the title insurer.
12. The United States and its servants, agents, and employees and all other public entities, their servants, agents, and employees, are released from any and all liability arising out of or in any way connected with the filing of the Complaint and the posting of the defendant real properties with the Complaint and Notice of Complaint. This is a full and final release applying to all unknown and unanticipated injuries, and/or damages arising out of the filing of the Complaint and the posting of the defendant real property with the Complaint and Notice of Complaint, as well as to those now known or disclosed. Claimant waived the provisions of California Civil Code § 1542.
13. Claimant Charles M. Hilkey, Jr. as sole owner of Sparky's Cherokee Estates, LLC, represents that he will not take any action, or cause any other person to take any action, to damage or modify the defendant real properties from their present condition or other action that may result in a reduction in value of the defendant real properties.
14. Claimant Charles M. Hilkey, Jr. shall remove all personal possessions, and the personal possessions of any former occupant, and leave the properties clean and in the same state of repair as the properties were on the date they were posted. Any and all of claimant's personal possessions, and the personal possessions of any former occupant, not removed within 72 hours after the entry of an Amended Final Judgment of Forfeiture will be disposed of by the United States without further notice.
15. This settlement is contingent upon the simultaneous execution of the settlement agreements in the following related cases: U.S. v. Real Properties in Nevada County, 2:09-CV-03062 LKK/GGH; U.S. v. Real Property in Nevada County, 2:09-CV-03063 LKK/GGH; U.S. v. Real Property at 24271 Hoyt Crossing Road, 2:09-CV-03085 LKK/GGH; and U.S. v. Approximately $90, 830.00 in U.S. Currency, 2:10-CV-00390 LKK/EFB. Failure to execute the settlement agreement in even a single action will void all settlement agreements.
16. All parties will bear their own costs and attorneys' fees, if any.
17. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, Hon. Lawrence K. Karlton, District Judge, shall retain jurisdiction to enforce the terms of the Amended Final Judgment of Forfeiture.
SO ORDERED.