Opinion
22 Cr. 618 (JPC)
01-09-2024
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. CHRISTOPHER BURGOS, Defendant.
DAMIAN WILLIAMS, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York MATTHEW R. SHAHABIAN, JANE Y. CHONG, THOMAS BURNETT Assistant United States Attorneys
DAMIAN WILLIAMS, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York
MATTHEW R. SHAHABIAN, JANE Y. CHONG, THOMAS BURNETT Assistant United States Attorneys
CON SENT PRELIMINARY ORDER OF FORFEITURE AS TO SPECIFIC PROPERTY
JOHN P. CRONAN, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
WHEREAS, on or about November 10, 2022, CHRISTOPHER BURGOS (the “Defendant”), was charged in a one-count Indictment, 22 Cr. 618 (JPC) (the “Indictment”), with narcotics conspiracy, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846 (Count One);
WHEREAS, the Indictment included a forfeiture allegation as to Count One of the Indictment, seeking forfeiture to the United States, pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853, of any and all property constituting, or derived from, any proceeds obtained, directly or indirectly, as a result of the commission of the offense charged in Count One of the Indictment and any and all property used, or intended to be used, in any manner or part, to commit, or to facilitate the commission of the offense charged in Count One of the Indictment, including but not i limited to a sum of money in United States currency representing the amount of proceeds traceable to the commission of the offense charged in Count One of the Indictment;
WHEREAS, on or about November 16, 2022, the Government seized the following specific property:
a. $8,000 in United States currency seized from the vehicle of Bhupinder Singh Virk (“Virk”) at the time of Virk's arrest;
b. $479,900 in United States currency seized from Virk's residence in Fresno, California;
c. One (1) Louis Vuitton bag seized from Virk's vehicle at the time of Virk's arrest; and
d. 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT63 VIN: WDD7X8JB5LA014070, seized at the time of Virk's arrest;(a. through d. collectively, the “Specific Property”);
WHEREAS, on or about January 9, 2024, the Defendant pled guilty to Count One of the Indictment, pursuant to a plea agreement with the Government, wherein the Defendant admitted the forfeiture allegation with respect to Count One of the Indictment and agreed to forfeit to the United States, pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853 all right, title and interest of the Defendant in the Specific Property;
WHEREAS, the Defendant consents to the forfeiture of all his right, title and interest in the Specific Property, which constitutes proceeds of the offense charged in Count One of the Indictment that the Defend ant personally obtained, and property used or intended to be used to commit the offense charged in Count One of the Indictment;
WHEREAS, the Defendant admits that, as a result of acts and/or omissions of the Defendant, the proceeds traceable to the offense charged in Count One of the Indictment that the Defendant personally obtained cannot be located upon the exercise of due diligence, with the exception of the Specific Property; and;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(g), and Rules 32.2(b)(3), and 32.2(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Government is now entitled, pending any assertion of third-party claims, to reduce the Specific Property to its possession and to notify any and all persons who reasonably appear to be a potential claimant of their interest herein;
IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED AND AGREED, by and between the United States of America, by its attorney Damian Williams, United States Attorney, Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew R. Shahabian, Jane Y. Chong, and Thomas Burnett, of counsel, and the Defendant and his counsel, James Froccaro, Esq., that:
1. Asa result of the offense charged in Count One of the Indictment, to which the Defendant pled guilty, all of the Defendant's right, title and interest in the Specific Property is hereby forfeited to the United States for disposition in accordance with the law, subject to the provisions of Title 21, United States Code, Section 853.
2. Pursuant to Rule 32.2(b)(4)of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, this Consent Preliminary Order of Forfeiture as to Specific Property is final as to the Defendant CHRISTOPHER BURGOS, and shall be deemed part of the sentence of the Defendant, and shall be included in the judgment of conviction therewith.
3. Upon entry of this Consent Preliminary Order of Forfeiture as to Specific Property, the United States (or its designee) is hereby authorized to take possession of the Specific Property and to hold such property in its secure custody and control.
4. Pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(n)(1), Rule32.2(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Rules G(4)(a)(iv)(C) and G(5)(a)(ii) of the Supplemental Rules for Certain Admiralty and Maritime Claims and Asset Forfeiture Actions, the United States is permitted to publish forfeiture notices on the government internet site, www.forfeiture.gov, This site incorporates the forfeiture notices that have been traditionally published in newspapers. The United States forthwith shall publish the internet ad for at least thirty (30) consecutive days. Any person, other than the Defendant, claiming interest in the Specific Property must file a Petition within sixty (60) days from the first day of publication of the Notice on this official government internet web site, or no later than thirty-five (35) days from the mailing of actual notice, whichever is earlier.
5. The published notice of forfeiture shall state that the petition (i) shall be for a hearing to adjudicate the validity of the petitioner's alleged interest in the Specific Property, (ii) shall be signed by the petitioner under penalty of perjury, and (iii) shall set forth the nature and extent of the petitioner's right, title or interest in the Specific Property, the time and circumstances of the petitioner's acquisition of the right, title and interest in the Specific Property, any additional facts supporting the petitioner's claim, and the relief sought, pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(n).
6. Pursuant to 32.2 (b)(6)(A) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Government shall send notice to any person who reasonably appears to be a potential claimant with standing to contest the forfeiture in the ancillary proceeding.
7. Upon adjudication of all third-party interests, this Court will enter a Final Order of Forfeiture with respect to the Specific Property pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(n), in which all interests will be addressed.
8. 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.
9. The Courtshall retain jurisdiction to enforce this Consent Preliminary Order of Forfeiture as to Specific Property and to amend it as necessary, pursuant to Rule 32.2 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure
10. The signature page of this Consent Preliminary Order of Forfeiture as to Specific Property may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.
SO ORDERED.