Opinion
S2 21 Cr. 652 (JSR)
09-30-2022
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JEROME AUSTIN, Defendant.
PRELIMINARY ORDER OF FORFEITURE/MONEY JUDGMENT
JED S. RAKOFF, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
WHEREAS, on or about April 20, 2022, JEROME AUSTIN (the “Defendant”), was charged in a three-count Information, S2 21 Cr. 652 (JSR) (the “Information”), with conspiracy to commit securities fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371 (Count One); conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349 (Count Two); and false statements, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001(a)(2) (Count Three);
WHEREAS, the Information included a forfeiture allegation as to Counts One and Two of the Information, seeking forfeiture to the United States, pursuant to pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Sections 981(a)(1)(C), and Title 28, United States Code, Section 2461(c), of any and all property, real and personal, that constitutes or is derived from proceeds traceable to the commission of the offenses charged in Counts One an Two of the Information, including but not limited to a sum of money in United States currency representing the amount of proceeds traceable to the commission of the offenses charged in Counts One and Two of the Information;
WHEREAS, on or about April 20, 2022, the Defendant pled guilty to Counts One through Three of the Information, pursuant to a plea agreement with the Government, wherein the Defendant admitted the forfeiture allegation with respect to Counts One and Two of the Information and agreed to forfeit to the United States, pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 981(a)(1)(C) and Title 28, United States Code, Section 2461(c), a sum of money representing proceeds traceable to the commission of the offenses charged in Counts One and Two of the Information;
WHEREAS, the Government asserts that $66,166 in United States currency represents all property, constituting or derived from proceeds traceable to the commission of the offenses charged in Counts One and Two of the Information that the Defendant personally obtained;
WHEREAS, the Government seeks a money judgment in the amount of $66,166 in United States currency, pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 981(a)(1)(C) and Title 28, United States Code, Section 2461(c), representing the proceeds traceable to the commission of the offenses charged in Counts One and Two of the Information that the Defendant personally obtained; and
WHEREAS, the Court finds that as a result of acts and/or omissions of the Defendant, the proceeds traceable to the offenses charged in Counts One and Two of the Information that the Defendant personally obtained cannot be located upon the exercise of due diligence.
NOW, THEREFORE;. IT IS ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED THAT:
1. As a result of the offenses charged in Counts One and Two of the Information, to which the Defendant pled guilty, a money judgment in the amount of $66,166 in United States currency (the “Money Judgment”), representing the proceeds traceable to the offenses charged in Counts One and Two of the Information that the Defendant personally obtained, shall be entered against the Defendant.
2. Pursuant to Rule 32.2(b)(4) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, this Preliminary Order of Forfeiture/Money Judgment is final as to the Defendant JEROME AUSTIN, and shall be deemed part of the sentence of the Defendant, and shall be included in the judgment of conviction therewith.
3. All payments on the outstanding money judgment shall be made by postal money order, bank or certified check, made payable, in this instance, to the United States Customs and Border Protection, 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.
4. Upon entry of this Preliminary Order of Forfeiture' Money Judgment, and pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853, the United States Customs and Border Protection, or its designee the Office of Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures shall be authorized to deposit the payments on the Money Judgment into the Treasury Assets Forfeiture Fund, and the United States shall have clear title to such forfeited property.
5. Pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 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.
6. 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.
7. The Court shall retain jurisdiction to enforce this Preliminary Ol der of Forfeiture/Money Judgment, and to amend it as necessary, pursuant to Rule 32.2 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.
IT SO ORDERED: