Opinion
5:23-CR-02 (CAR)
05-14-2024
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. DAVEONTAE LEE BYRDSONG, Defendant
PETER D. LEARY UNITED STATES ATTORNEY MICHAEL PATRICK MORRILL Assistant United States Attorney Georgia Bar Number: 545410
PETER D. LEARY UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
MICHAEL PATRICK MORRILL Assistant United States Attorney Georgia Bar Number: 545410
PRELIMINARY ORDER OF FORFEITURE
C. ASHLEY ROYAL, SENIOR JUDGE
WHEREAS, on January 19, 2024, Defendant Daveontae Lee Byrdsong (hereinafter “Byrdsong” or “Defendant”), pled guilty to Count One of the Superseding Information charging him with Transportation of Individual to Engage in Prostitution, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2421(a);
AND WHEREAS, the United States and the Defendant, through counsel, jointly moved for the written Plea Agreement to be filed under seal, which was granted by the Court;
AND WHEREAS, the Superseding Information contained a Forfeiture Notice, pursuant to which the United States sought forfeiture under Title 18, United States Code, Section 2428, of any property, real or personal, that was used or intended to be used to commit or to facilitate the commission of the offense(s), including, but not limited to the following: one (1) Apple iPhone 11, IMEI: 356057362272213, Serial Number: DX4HGD8EN72J (hereinafter referred to as the “subject property”);
AND WHEREAS, as part his Plea Agreement the Defendant agreed to the entry of a preliminary order of forfeiture as to the subject property pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32.2 upon acceptance of Defendant's plea of guilty by the United States District Court, and waived the requirements of Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure 32.2 and 43(a) regarding notice of the forfeiture in the charging instrument, announcement of the forfeiture at sentencing, and incorporation of the forfeiture in the judgment;
AND WHEREAS, the Court has determined, based on the evidence already in the record, that (1) Defendant has an ownership interest in the subject property; (2) that the subject property is subject to forfeiture pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 2428; and (3) that the United States has established the requisite nexus between the aforesaid offense(s) and the subject property.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED THAT:
1. Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 2428, 18 U.S.C. § 3554, and Rule 32.2(b), Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the United States has demonstrated the required nexus between the subject property and the offense(s) of conviction and the subject property is hereby forfeited to the United States.
2. Upon the entry of this Order, in accordance with FED. R. CRIM. P. 32.2(b)(3), the Attorney General (or a designee) is authorized to seize the subject property, and to
conduct any discovery that may assist in identifying, locating or disposing of the subject property, and to commence any applicable proceeding to comply with statutes governing third-party rights, including giving notice of this Order.
3. The United States shall publish notice of the Order and its intent to dispose of the subject property in such a manner as the United States Attorney General (or his designee) may direct. The United States may also, to the extent practicable, provide written notice to any person known to have an alleged interest in the subject property.
4. Any person, other than the above-named Defendant, asserting a legal interest in the subject property must, within thirty (30) days after receipt of notice, or no later than sixty (60) days from the first day of publication on the official internet government forfeiture site, www.forfeiture.gov, whichever is earlier, petition the Court for a hearing without a jury to adjudicate the validity of his alleged interest in the subject property, and for an amendment of the Order of Forfeiture, pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 853(n), as incorporated by 18 U.S.C. §2428(b).
5. Pursuant to FED. R. CRIM. P. 32.2(b)(4), this Preliminary Order of Forfeiture shall become final as to the Defendant at the time of entry, as sentencing has already commenced. If no third-party files a timely claim, this Order shall become the Final Order of Forfeiture, as provided by FED. R. CRIM. P. 32.2(c)(2).
6. Any petition filed by a third-party asserting an interest in the subject 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 subject property, the time and circumstances of the petitioner's acquisition of the right, title or interest in the subject property, any additional facts supporting the petitioner's claim and the relief sought.
7. After the disposition of any motion filed under FED. R. CRIM. P. 32.2(c)(1)(A) and before a hearing on the petition, discovery may be conducted in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure upon a showing that such discovery is necessary or desirable to resolve factual issues.
8. The United States shall have clear title to the subject property following the Court's disposition of all third-party interests, or if none, following the expiration of the period provided in 21 U.S.C. § 853(n), as incorporated by 18 U.S.C. § 2428(b), for the filing of third-party petitions.
9. The Court shall retain jurisdiction to enforce this Order, and to amend it as necessary, pursuant to FED. R. CRIM. P. 32.2(e).
SO ORDERED.