Opinion
Criminal No. 2:12-cr-00301-JLL
12-21-2012
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. MAURICE BETHEA, Defendant.
The undersigned hereby consent to the entry and form of this order: PAUL J. FISHMAN United States Attorney By: MATTHEW E. BECK Assistant United States Attorney THOMAS R. ASHLEY, ESQ. Attorney for Defendant Maurice Bethea Defendant Maurice Bethea
Honorable Jose L. Linares, U.S.D.J.
CONSENT JUDGMENT AND
ORDER OF FORFEITURE
WHEREAS, on or about May 3, 2012, defendant Maurice Bethea pled guilty pursuant to a plea agreement with the United States to an Information charging him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution, contrary to 18 U.S.C. § 1343, and in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 982, a person convicted of an offense in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349 shall forfeit to the United States any property constituting, or derived from, proceeds obtained directly or indirectly, from the commission of the offense; and
WHEREAS the sum of $484,966.44 is subject to forfeiture by defendant Maurice Bethea as property constituting, or derived from, proceeds obtained directly or indirectly, from the commission of the offense to which defendant Maurice Bethea has pled guilty; and
WHEREAS if by any act or omission of the defendant, any property subject to forfeiture:
(A) cannot be located upon the exercise of due diligence;it is the intent of the United States to seek forfeiture of any other property of the defendant up to the value of the property subject to forfeiture pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 853(p), as incorporated by 28 U.S.C. § 2461(c); and
(B) has been transferred or sold to, or deposited with, a third party;
(C) has been placed beyond the jurisdiction of the court;
(D) has been substantially diminished in value; or
(E) has been commingled with other property which cannot be divided without difficulty,
WHEREAS the United States has not, as of this date, identified specific assets that constitute or are derived from proceeds traceable to the offense of defendant Maurice Bethea, nor has the United States yet identified any property of defendant Maurice Bethea that could be forfeited as a substitute asset in accordance with 21 U.S.C. § 853(p); and
WHEREAS defendant Maurice Bethea:
(1) Consents to the forfeiture to the United States of $484,966.44 as property that constitutes or is derived from proceeds traceable to the offense to which he pled guilty;
(2) Agrees to consent promptly upon request to the entry of any orders deemed necessary by the government or the Court to complete the forfeiture and disposition of property;
(3) Waives the requirements of Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure 32.2 and 43(a) regarding notice of forfeiture in the charging instrument, announcement of the forfeiture in the defendant's presence at sentencing, and incorporation of the forfeiture in the Judgment of Conviction;
(4) Acknowledges that he understands that forfeiture of property will be part of the sentence imposed upon him in this case and waives any failure by the Court to advise him of this, pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11(b)(1)(J), during the plea hearing;
(5) Agrees, pursuant to Rule 32.2(b)(3), to consent promptly to the finalization of the order of forfeiture before sentencing if requested by the government to do so;
(6) Waives, and agrees to hold the United States and its agents and employees harmless from, any and all claims whatsoever in connection with the seizure, forfeiture, and disposal of the property described above; and
(7) Waives all constitutional and statutory challenges of any kind to any forfeiture carried out pursuant to this Consent Judgment;
WHEREAS Rule 32.2(c)(1) provides that no ancillary proceeding is required to the extent that the forfeiture consists of a money judgment; and
WHEREAS good and sufficient cause has been shown,
It is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED:
THAT, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 982, defendant Maurice Bethea shall forfeit to the United States the sum of $484,966.44; and
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a money judgment in the amount of $484,966.44 shall be entered against defendant Maurice Bethea; and
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the United States District Court shall retain jurisdiction to enforce this Order, and to amend it as necessary, pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 32.2(e); and
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that pursuant to Rule 32.2(b)(4)(A), this Order of Forfeiture shall become final as to defendant Maurice Bethea at the time of sentencing, or before sentencing if the defendant consents, and shall be made part of the sentence and included in the judgment; and
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the United States may move at any time pursuant to Rule 32.2(e) and 21 U.S.C. § 853(p) to amend this Order of Forfeiture to include substitute property having a value not to exceed $484,966.44 in United States currency to satisfy the forfeiture money judgment in whole or in part.
____________________________
Honorable Jose L. Linares
United States District Judge
The undersigned hereby
consent to the entry and
form of this order:
PAUL J. FISHMAN
United States Attorney
____________________________
By: MATTHEW E. BECK
Assistant United States Attorney
____________________________
THOMAS R. ASHLEY, ESQ.
Attorney for Defendant Maurice Bethea
____________________________
Defendant Maurice Bethea