Opinion
STEPHANIE YONEKURA, Acting United States Attorney, ROBERT E. DUGDALE, Assistant United States Attorney Chief, Criminal Division, STEVEN R. WELK, Assistant United States Attorney Chief, Asset Forfeiture, FRANK D. KORTUM, Assistant United States Attorney Asset Forfeiture Section, Los Angeles, California, Attorneys for Plaintiff UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
CONSENT JUDGMENT [42]
[This Judgment resolves the claims of claimants Thomas Williams and Amy Williams. It is not case-dispositive as to any other claimants.]
DAVID O. CARTER, District Judge.
This civil forfeiture action was commenced on February 12, 2014. Thomas Williams ("T. Williams") and Amy Williams and ("A. Williams") (the "Claimants") filed a timely claim on March 19, 2014 to the defendant $110,344.41 seized from Wells Fargo Bank Account 3577 (Asset ID No. 09-IRS-000994) Dkt. 10 and 11. No party other than T. Williams and A. Williams has made a claim against the defendant asset and no other party is believed to have an interest in the defendant asset. Plaintiff and Claimants have made a stipulated request for the entry of this consent judgment of forfeiture resolving all claims concerning the defendant asset.
The Court has been duly advised of and has considered the matter. Based upon the Stipulation and mutual consent of plaintiff United States, T. Williams and A. Williams, and good cause appearing therefor, the Court hereby ORDERS, ADJUDGES AND DECREES as follows:
$55,172.20 of the $110,344.41 seized from Wells Fargo Bank Account 3577 and fifty percent (50%) of all interest earned by the government on the entirety of the defendant asset since seizure, shall be forfeited to the United States, and no other right, title, or interest shall exist therein. The remaining portion of the defendant asset, $55,172.21, and fifty percent (50%) of all interest earned by the government on the entirety of the defendant asset since seizure, shall be returned to the Claimants. The funds are to be made payable via ACH deposit to the Trust Account of the Law Offices of Steven M. Goldsobel, A Professional Corporation, 1900 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1800, Los Angeles, California 90067. Claimants shall provide all information needed by the government to make said payment in accordance with federal law.
The Court finds that there was reasonable cause for the seizure of the defendant asset and the institution of this action against the defendant asset. This consent judgment shall be construed as a certificate of reasonable cause pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2465. Each of the parties shall bear its own fees and costs in connection with the seizure, retention and forfeiture of the defendant asset.