Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_09-cv-03963/USCOURTS-cand-3_09-cv-03963-0/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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JOSEPH P. RUSSONIELLO (CSBN 44332)

United States Attorney

BRIAN J. STRETCH (CSBN 163973)

Chief, Criminal Division

NATALIE K. WIGHT (ORSBN 35576)

Special Assistant United States Attorney

450 Golden Gate Avenue, 11th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94102

Telephone: 415.436.6937

Facsimile: 415.436.7234

Email: natalie.wight@usdoj.gov

Attorneys for Plaintiff

JOSEPH D. ELFORD (CSBN 189934)

1322 Webster Street, Suite 402

Oakland, CA 94612

Telephone: 415.573.7842

Facsimile: 510.251.2036

Email: joeelford@yahoo.com

 Attorney for Claimant, Ciciriello

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 

Plaintiff,

v.

APPROXIMATELY $183,820 IN UNITED

STATES CURRENCY AND $34,000 IN

UNITED STATES CURRENCY,

Defendant.

 

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No. 09-CV-3963-EMC

JOINT CASE MANAGEMENT

CONFERENCE STATEMENT

AND

[PROPOSED] ORDER TO

RESCHEDULE CMC

I. Jurisdiction

This Court has jurisdiction pursuant to Title 28, United States Code, Sections 1345 and

1355; and Title 21, United States Code, Section 881.

II. Brief Case Description

This is a civil forfeiture action. The government contends there is sufficient evidence to

show the defendant currency was seized as money furnished or intended to be furnished by a

Case 3:09-cv-03963-EMC Document 15 Filed 03/01/10 Page 1 of 4
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28 JOINT CMC STATEMENT

C 09-3963-EMC 2

person in exchange for a controlled substance, or money traceable to such an exchange, or money

used or intended to be used to facilitate a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Chapter 13,

Subchapter I, and is thus subject to forfeiture.

Claimant, Gary Ciciriello, denies the claims made by the United States and asserts that

the government has failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted and that the property

was seized in violation of Mr. Ciciriello’s right to be free from unlawful searches and seizures. 

III. Service/Parties to the Action

All persons known to have an interest in the defendant property have been served,

including Peter Flax, Carl Grimm, Gary Ciciriello and Mr. Ciciriello’s attorney, Joseph Elford. 

Mr. Elford filed a verified claim and answer on behalf of Mr. Ciciriello on September 25, 2009,

and October 15, 2009, respectively. To date, no other claims have been filed.

IV. Principal Factual and Legal Issues

The principal factual and legal issues in dispute are: (1) whether claimant Gary Ciciriello

can prove that the government failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted or that the

defendant property was seized in violation of claimant’s right to be free from unlawful searches

and seizures; and (2) whether the government can establish by a preponderance of the evidence

that the defendant currency is money furnished or intended to be furnished by a person in

exchange for a controlled substance, or money traceable to such an exchange, or money used or

intended to be used to facilitate a drug violation of Title 21, United States Code, Chapter 13,

Subchapter I.

V. Anticipated Motions

The related criminal investigation of Mr. Ciciriello is on-going and being reviewed by

local law enforcement and the local prosecutors’s office; therefore, the parties recommend a

30-day continuance of the Case Management Conference. If the local authorities pursue

prosecution of Mr. Ciciriello, the United States will file a 18 U.S.C. §981(g)(1) motion to stay 

federal civil forfeiture proceedings. Additionally, the government may file a motion to dismiss

the claimant’s §1983 counter-claim as improperly brought in this in rem forfeiture action. 

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28 JOINT CMC STATEMENT

C 09-3963-EMC 3

VI. Relief/Damages 

The government seeks a judgment of forfeiture of the defendant currency. Claimant

seeks return of the defendant currency, interest, attorney’s fees, damages and attorney’s fees for

42 U.S.C. §1983 violations, and other such relief that is just and equitable. 

VII. Settlement

The parties have briefly discussed settlement but no settlement has been reached at this

time.

VIII. Discovery

Both parties anticipate to propound discovery in this case (interrogatories, document

requests and depositions); however, the discovery time line will be determined by the Court and

the possible request for a stay pending the results of the open criminal investigation of claimant

Ciciriello. 

IX. Alternative Means of Disposition

At this time the parties do not request reference to arbitration or to a United States

Magistrate Judge for trial. 

X. Pretrial/Trial Issues

At this time the parties have not yet discussed any trial issues.

XI. Class Action

This is not a class action.

XII. Related Cases

At this time no related cases have been filed.

DATED: February 24, 2010 __________/S/______________________

NATALIE K. WIGHT

Special Assistant United States Attorney

DATED: February 24, 2010 __________/S/______________________

JOSEPH D. ELFORD

Attorney for Claimant Gary Ciciriello

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28 JOINT CMC STATEMENT

C 09-3963-EMC 4

[PROPOSED] ORDER

Pursuant to the stipulation of the parties in the Joint CMC Statement and for good cause

shown, the Case Management Conference currently scheduled for Wednesday, March 3, 2010, at 

2:30 p.m., is hereby vacated, and is continued until ___________________________________.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated:________________ __________________________________

HONORABLE EDWARD M. CHEN

United States Magistrate Judge

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