Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-mc-00017/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-mc-00017-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 625
Nature of Suit: Drug Related Seizure of Property
Cause of Action: 21:841 Forfeiture Property-Drugs

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McGREGOR W. SCOTT

United States Attorney

KENNETH J. MELIKIAN

COURTNEY J. LINN

Assistant U.S. Attorneys

501 I Street, Suite 10-100

Sacramento, Ca. 95814

Telephone: (916) 554-2700

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) 2:06-MC-00017-MCE-DAD

)

Plaintiff, ) CONSENT JUDGMENT

) OF FORFEITURE

v. )

)

APPROXIMATELY $32,980.00 IN U.S. )

CURRENCY, )

)

Defendant. )

___________________________________)

)

JUAN ALBERTO SERRANO, )

 )

Potential Claimant. )

___________________________________)

Pursuant to the Stipulation for Consent Judgment of

Forfeiture, the Court finds:

1. On February 4, 2004, the Drug Enforcement Administration

forfeited the approximately $32,980.00 in U.S. Currency through an

administrative forfeiture proceeding. 

2. On or about February 10, 2004, potential claimant Juan

Alberto Serrano filed a Notice of Motion and Motion For Return of

Property in In Re: The Search of: 3219 Bellview Street, Stockton,

California, SW-03-0250-DAD. On or about March 18, 2004, a

Case 2:06-mc-00017-MCE -DAD Document 2 Filed 02/27/06 Page 1 of 5
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Stipulation and Order was filed that set aside the declaration of

forfeiture in the administrative proceeding and gave the government

ninety (90) days within which to commence the civil forfeiture of

the seized currency, and/or to obtain a criminal indictment

containing an allegation that the property was subject to

forfeiture.

3. On April 22, 2004, the government filed a Second

Superseding Indictment containing a forfeiture allegation

concerning the approximately $32,980.00 in U.S. Currency in U.S. v.

Juan Alberto Serrano, et al., CR-S-03-448 FCD. Juan Alberto

Serrano was indicted pursuant to 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1). 

On May 14, 2004, an Order was filed allowing the government to

maintain custody of the currency pending the resolution of the

criminal forfeiture matter.

4. On September 2, 2005, a Superseding Information was filed

against Juan Alberto Serrano charging him with 31 U.S.C. §

5324(a)(3) - Structuring Financial Transactions. On or about

September 6, 2005, a plea agreement was filed wherein Juan Alberto

Serrano pled guilty to the sole count of the Superseding

Information, structuring financial transactions in violation of 31

U.S.C. § 5324(a)(3). In that plea agreement, Juan Alberto Serrano

agreed to forfeit to the United States voluntarily and immediately

all right, title and interest in the approximately $32,980.00 in

U.S. Currency seized on or about August 27, 2003 from the residence

located at 3219 Bellview Street, Stockton, California. 

5. Juan Alberto Serrano has acknowledged that he is the sole

owner of the defendant currency. 

6. This Court has jurisdiction in this matter pursuant to 28

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U.S.C. §§ 1345 and 1355, as this is the judicial district in which

acts or omissions giving rise to the forfeiture occurred.

7. This Court has venue pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1395, as this

is the judicial district in which the currency was seized.

8. The parties herein desire to settle this matter pursuant

to the terms of a duly executed Stipulation for Consent Judgment of

Forfeiture.

Based upon the above findings, and the Court being otherwise

fully advised in the premises, it is hereby 

ORDERED AND ADJUDGED:

9. The Court adopts the Stipulation for Consent Judgment of

Forfeiture entered into by and between the parties.

10. All right, title and interest in the above-listed

currency seized on or about August 27, 2003, shall be forfeited to

the United States pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(6), to be disposed

of according to law.

11. Plaintiff United States of America and its servants,

agents, and employees and all other public entities, their

servants, agents and employees, are released from any and all

liability arising out of or in any way connected with the seizure

and/or forfeiture of defendant property. This is a full and final

release applying to all unknown and unanticipated injuries, and/or

damages arising out of said seizure and/or forfeiture, as well as

to those now known or disclosed. The parties to the Stipulation

filed herein have agreed to waive the provisions of California

Civil Code § 1542, which provides: "A general release does not

extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to

exist in his favor at the time of executing the release, which if

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known by him must have materially affected his settlement with the

debtor."

12. Pursuant to the Stipulation for Consent Judgment of

Forfeiture filed herein, the Court finds that there was probable

cause for the seizure of defendant currency, and a Certificate of

Probable Cause pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2465 shall be entered

accordingly.

13. Juan Alberto Serrano acknowledges that he obtained, or

declined to obtain, the advice of counsel prior to executing the

above-referenced stipulation, and that he entered into it knowingly

and voluntarily.

14. All parties will bear their own costs and attorneys’

fees.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: February 24, 2006

___________________________________

MORRISON C. ENGLAND, JR

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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CERTIFICATE OF REASONABLE CAUSE

Pursuant to the Stipulation for Consent Judgment of Forfeiture

filed herein, the Court enters this Certificate of Reasonable Cause

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2465, that there was reasonable cause for

the seizure of the above-described currency.

DATED: February 24, 2006

_____________________________

MORRISON C. ENGLAND, JR

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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