Opinion
S1 21 Cr. 17 (KPF)
11-07-2022
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. DRILON HAXHAJ, a/k/a “Lenny,” Defendant.
DAMIAN WILLIAMS United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York MATHEW ANDREWS FRANK BALSAMELLO CHRISTOPHER BRUMWELL BENJAMIN GIANFORTI Assistant United States Attorneys DRILON HAXHAJ RICHARD ROSENBERG, ESQ. Attorney for Defendant
DAMIAN WILLIAMS
United States Attorney for the
Southern District of New York
MATHEW ANDREWS
FRANK BALSAMELLO
CHRISTOPHER BRUMWELL
BENJAMIN GIANFORTI
Assistant United States Attorneys
DRILON HAXHAJ
RICHARD ROSENBERG, ESQ.
Attorney for Defendant
CONSENT PRELIMINARY ORDER OF FORFEITURE AS TO SPECIFIC PROPERTY
HONORABLE KATHERINE POLK FAILLA, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
WHEREAS, on or about January 28, 2021, DRILON HAXHAJ, a/k/a “Lenny,” (the “Defendant”), was charged in a two-count superseding Indictment, SI 21 Cr. 17 (KPF) (the “Indictment”), with narcotics conspiracy, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846 (Count One); and a firearms offense, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924 (c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), and (iii), and 2 (Count Two);
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 offense charged in Count One of the Indictment, and any and all properly 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 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 January 13, 2021, the Government seized, inter alia, the following property from Defendant at the time of his arrest:
i. One pink colored metal necklace encrusted with clear stones;
ii. One pink colored metal bracelet encrusted with clear stones;
iii. One pair of pink colored metal earrings with clear stone;
iv. One pink colored Audemars Piguet watch encrusted with clear stones;
v. One pink colored ring encrusted with clear stones;
vi. One gold colored ring encrusted with clear stones; and
vii. $730.00 in United States currency;(i. through ix., collectively, the “Specific Property”);
WHEREAS, on or about June 27, 2022, the Defendant pled guilty to a lesser included offense 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 18, United States Code, Section 853, inter alia, any and all property constituting, or derived from, any proceeds obtained, directly or indirectly, as a result 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;
WHEREAS, the Defendant hereby admits the forfeiture allegation with respect to Count One of the Indictment, and agrees to forfeit to the United States all right, title, and interest in 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 Mathew Andrews, Frank Balsamello, Christopher Brumwell, and Benjamin Gianforti, of counsel, and the Defendant and his counsel, Richard Rosenberg, 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 DRILON HAXHAJ, 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), Rule 32.2(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 Court shall 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: