Opinion
3:23-cr-00071-SLG-KFR
03-08-2024
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. WILLIAM BENJAMIN WALSTON, Defendant.
PRELIMINARY ORDER OF FORFEITURE
SHARON L. GLEASON, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32.2(b)(2), based on defendant's guilty plea and admission to forfeiture, the Court GRANTS the Motion for Preliminary Order of Forfeiture (Docket 36), and finds as follows:
The following property constitutes any proceeds obtained directly or indirectly, as a result of such offense and any property used, or intended to be used, in any manner or part, to commit, or to facilitate the commission of the offense of conviction pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 841, and therefore defendant's interest, if any, in the following property is subject to forfeiture, pursuant to 21 U.S.C. §§ 853(a)(1) & (2), and 28 U.S.C. § 2461(c), including without limitation:
1. $4,000.00 in U.S. Currency
THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED as follows:
The above-listed property is hereby condemned and forfeited to the United States of America pursuant to 21 U.S.C. §§ 853(a)(1) & (2), and 28 U.S.C. § 2461(c), and defendant shall forthwith forfeit all right, title and interest, if any, in the above-listed property.
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32.2(b)(3), the U.S. Marshal and/or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is authorized to seize and take possession of the aforementioned property and hold such in its secure custody and control until further order of this Court, may conduct any discovery the Court considers proper in identifying, locating, or disposing of said property; and to commence proceedings that comply with any statutes governing third-party rights.
Pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 853(n), the United States Attorney's Office shall publish notice of this Preliminary Order of Forfeiture and of the United States' intent to dispose of the property in such manner as the Attorney General may direct. The notice shall be published on the official government forfeiture website, www.forfeiture.gov, for at least 30 consecutive days. The notice shall state that any person, other than the defendant, having or claiming a legal interest in the above-listed forfeited property must file a petition with the Court within 60 days from the first publication of notice or 30 days of receipt of actual notice, whichever is earlier.
The notice shall state that the petition shall be for a hearing to adjudicate the validity of the petitioner's alleged interest in the property, 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 property. The petition shall also set forth any additional facts supporting the petitioner's claim and the relief sought.
The United States may also, to the extent practicable, provide direct written notice as substitute for published notice to any person known to have alleged an interest in the property that is the subject of this Preliminary Order of Forfeiture. Upon adjudication of all third-party interests, this Court shall enter a final order of forfeiture in which all interests will be addressed.