Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-00093/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-00093-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JORGE N. ARRELLANO-LOPEZ,

Plaintiff,

v.

J. GONZALES, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:23-cv-00093-EPG (PC)

ORDER FOR PLAINTIFF TO SHOW CAUSE 

WHY THIS CASE SHOULD NOT BE 

DISMISSED, WITHOUT PREJUDICE, 

BECAUSE HIS ALLEGATION OF POVERTY 

IS UNTRUE AND HE KNOWINGLY 

PROVIDED INACCURATE INFORMATION

THIRTY-DAY DEADLINE

Plaintiff is a prisoner proceeding pro se in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §

1983. On January 23, 2023, Plaintiff filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant 

to 28 U.S.C. § 1915, along with a Trust Account Statement. (ECF No. 2). According to 

Plaintiff’s application, he is not employed, he has not received money from any sources in the last 

twelve months, and he has no money or other assets. 

However, according to the attached Trust Account Statement, between July 23, 2022, and 

January 23, 2023, Plaintiff received over $4,500. Additionally, Plaintiff received $500 less than 

three weeks before filing the case. Finally, it appears that Plaintiff previously attempted to file 

this case in September of 2022 by mailing the complaint to the Court. (ECF No. 1-1, p. 2). At 

that time, Plaintiff attempted to pay the filing fee by sending two money orders. (ECF No. 1, p. 

10; ECF No. 1-1, pgs. 2-3). However, the money orders were returned because they totaled more 

than the amount of the filing fee, and Plaintiff’s complaint was returned because Plaintiff did not 

comply with the Court’s E-Filing procedures. (ECF No. 1-1, pgs. 2-3).

Thus, it appears that Plaintiff, who is a prisoner, has been dishonest in this application to 

Case 1:23-cv-00093-JLT-EPG Document 5 Filed 01/25/23 Page 1 of 3
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proceed in forma pauperis and that his allegation of poverty is untrue. 

“Notwithstanding any filing fee, or any portion thereof, that may have been paid, the court 

shall dismiss the case at any time if the court determines that ... the allegation of poverty is 

untrue.” 28 U.S.C § 1915(e)(2)(A). Additionally, “courts routinely dismiss with prejudice cases 

upon finding that the plaintiff has intentionally withheld information that may have disqualified 

plaintiff from obtaining IFP status or has otherwise manipulated his finances to make it appear 

that a plaintiff is poorer than he actually is; i.e., where the facts show that the inaccuracy on the 

IFP application resulted from the plaintiff’s bad faith.” Witkin v. Lee, 2020 WL 2512383, at *3 

(E.D. Cal. May 15, 2020), report and recommendation adopted, 2020 WL 4350094 (E.D. Cal. 

July 29, 2020), appeal dismissed, 2020 WL 8212954 (9th Cir. Dec. 9, 2020). See also Steshenko 

v. Gayrard, 2015 WL 1503651, at *5 (N.D. Cal. Apr. 1, 2015) (“Where the applicant has 

knowingly provided inaccurate information on his or her IFP application, the dismissal may be 

with prejudice.”) (citing Thomas v. Gen. Motors Acceptance Corp., 288 F.3d 305, 306 (7th Cir. 

2002); Attwood v. Singletary, 105 F.3d 610, 612-13 (11th Cir. 1997); Romesburg v. Trickey, 908 

F.2d 258, 260 (8th Cir. 1990); Thompson v. Carlson, 705 F.2d 868, 869 (6th Cir. 1983)), aff’d 

sub nom. Steshenko v. Albee, 691 F. App’x 869 (9th Cir. 2017).

As it appears that Plaintiff’s allegation of poverty is untrue, and that Plaintiff knowingly 

provided inaccurate information in his IFP application, the Court will order Plaintiff to show 

cause as to why this case should not be dismissed. 

Accordingly, based on the foregoing, IT IS ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff has thirty days from the date of service of this order to show cause as to

why this action should not be dismissed because his allegation of poverty is untrue

and he knowingly provided false information to the Court; and

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2. If Plaintiff fails to file a response to this order, the Court will issue findings and 

recommendations to a district judge, recommending dismissal of this action. If the 

Court finds that Plaintiff knowingly provided inaccurate information, the Court 

may recommend that the dismissal be with prejudice.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 25, 2023 /s/

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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