Opinion
CV 23-48-BU-BMM
12-05-2023
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. SAVAGE 112 RIFLE, SMITH & WESSON 500 REVOLVER, AND APPROXIMATELY 43 ROUNDS OF ASSORTED AMMUNITION, Defendants.
FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS OF LAW, DEFAULT JUDGMENT, AND ORDER OF FORFEITURE
BRIAN MORRIS, CHIEF DISTRICT JUDGE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
This matter is brought before this Court by Plaintiff, United States, by and through its attorney, Randy J. Tanner, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana. The United States has filed a Motion for Entry of Default Judgment and Order of Forfeiture pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 55(b)(2). Upon considering the pleadings filed herein, the Court makes the following Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law.
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. On June 30, 2023, the United States instituted a judicial forfeiture action by filing in this cause, a Verified Complaint in Rem against the defendant firearms, consisting of the following property involved in a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) and (3), and subject to forfeiture pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 924(d)(1):
• Savage 112 Rifle, CAL:22-250, Serial No. F168025;
• Smith & Wesson 500 Revolver, CAL:500, Serial No. CJB8449; and
• approximately 43 rounds of assorted ammunition.
2. On June 30, 2023, the ATF Special Agent Philip Swain, executed the Warrant of Arrest in Rem (Doc 4) that was issued by this Court on June 30, 2023, and arrested the defendant property. (Declaration of Arrest, Doc. 5).
3. On June 30, 2023, the United States provided “direct notice” of this civil asset forfeiture action to Teresa Larson and Richard Dawson, by mailing the Notice of Complaint for Forfeiture and Verified Complaint In Rem (Doc. 2) via first class U.S. mail and Certified mail to the address provided in the administrative claim and by law enforcement, (Doc. 7, Ex. 1 and 2).
4. Notice of this forfeiture action was also provided to any and all unknown potential claimants by publishing on the government's asset forfeiture website the Notice of Forfeiture Action for 30 consecutive days, beginning on July 22, 2023, and ending on August 20, 2023. The “Notice of Forfeiture Action” provides in pertinent part as follows:
Any person claiming a legal interest in the Defendant Property must file a verified Claim with the court within 60 days from the first day of publication (July 22, 2023) of this Notice on this official government internet web site and an Answer to the complaint or motion under Rule 12 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure within 21 days thereafter....(Doc. 9, Att. 1).
5. Upon considering the United States' Motion for Entry of Default of Known Potential Claimants (Doc. 6), the Clerk of District Court entered the default of Teresa Larson and Richard Dawson, on August 9, 2023, for failure to timely file with the court, a verified claim and/or to answer or otherwise defend as required by the Supplemental Rules. (Doc. 8).
6. Upon considering the United States' Motion for Entry of Default of Unknown Potential Claimants (Doc. 10), the Clerk of District Court entered the default of Unknown Potential Claimants, on September 29, 2023, for failure to timely file a verified claim and/or to answer or otherwise defend as required by the Supplemental Rules. (Doc. 12).
7. The factual allegations set forth in paragraphs 4 through 15 of the Verified Complaint, are verified by ATF Special Agent, Philip Swain. (Doc. 1, pg. 8)
Based upon the foregoing findings of fact, the Court makes the following conclusions of law.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
8. The Court has jurisdiction of this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1345 and 1355. The United States has filed a Verified Complaint for Forfeiture in Rem to forfeit the defendant property consisting of firearms, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 924(d)(1).
9. Venue is proper in this District pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1355 and 1395, because the acts or omissions giving rise to the forfeiture occurred in and around Belgrade, Montana, and the defendant property is located in this district.
10. Civil forfeitures are governed by the Supplemental Rules for Certain Admiralty or Maritime Claims and Asset Forfeiture Actions of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. United States v. 2659 Roundhill Drive, 283 F.3d 1146, 1149 n.2 (9th Cir. 2002).
11. The Verified Complaint for Forfeiture in Rem sets forth detailed facts to support a reasonable belief that the United States will be able to meet its burden of proof at trial as required by Supplemental Rule G(2)(f), to support probable cause, and to provide proof by a preponderance of the evidence to seize and arrest the defendant property described in the verified complaint.
12. Under 18 U.S.C. § 924(d), any firearm or ammunition involved or used in any violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) and (3), shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture.
13. Notice of this action was properly provided to known potential claimants, Teresa Larson and Richard Dawson, by providing “direct notice” by mailing the Verified Complaint In Rem and Notice of Complaint for Forfeiture, in accordance with Supplemental Rule G(4)(b)(v).
14. In accordance with Fed.R.Civ.P. 55(a) and Supplemental Rules A(2) and G(5), the Clerk of District Court properly entered the default of Teresa Larson and Richard Dawson. (Doc. 8).
15. Notice by publication was also provided to any and all unknown potential claimants in accordance with Supplemental Rule (G)(4)(a)(iv)(C).
16. In accordance with Fed.R.Civ.P. 55(a) and Supplemental Rules A(2) and G(5), the Clerk of District Court properly entered the default of unknown claimants. (Doc. 12).
17. The United States is entitled to default judgment against the defendant property and against any claims to the defendant property under Fed.R.Civ.P. 55(b)(2). The United States is further entitled to an order of forfeiture of the defendant firearms.
Based upon the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED as follows:
1. The United States is granted a default judgment against the defendant property, which are more particularly described as follows:
• Savage 112 Rifle, CAL:22-250, Serial No. F168025;
• Smith & Wesson 500 Revolver, CAL:500, Serial No. CJB8449; and
• approximately 43 rounds of assorted ammunition.
2. The defendant property is hereby forfeited to the United States and shall be disposed of in accordance with the law.