Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00382/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00382-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 625
Nature of Suit: Drug Related Seizure of Property
Cause of Action: 21:881 Forfeiture Property-Drugs

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff,

v.

REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 6872

NORTH HASTON AVENUE, FRESNO,

FRESNO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, Aon:

410-293-082, INCLUDING ALL

APPURTENANCES AND IMPROVEMENTS

THERETO,

Defendant.

 

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1:06-cv-0382 OWW SMS

SCHEDULING CONFERENCE ORDER

AND ORDER STAYING ACTION

I. Date of Scheduling Conference.

August 24, 2006.

II. Appearances Of Counsel.

Stephanie Hamilton Birches, Esq., Assistant United States

Attorney, appeared on behalf of Plaintiff.

Daniel Bacon, Esq., appeared on behalf of Gabriel

Schoenstein. Daniel Bacon also appears in pro se as a claimant,

claiming bona fide purchaser for value status under 18 U.S.C.

§ 983(d)(3)(A). 

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III. Summary of Pleadings. 

1. This is an in rem civil forfeiture action. In its

Verified Complaint for Forfeiture In Rem, the government alleges

that the real property located at 6872 N. HASTEN Avenue, Fresno,

Fresno County, California, AON: 410-293-98S (hereinafter the

“Defendant real property”), was used or intended to be used, in

any manner or part, to commit, or to facilitate the commission

of, a violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), an offense punishable

by more than one year’s imprisonment and is therefore subject to

forfeiture to the United states pursuant to 21 U.S.C.

§ 881(a)(7). The Defendant real property was posted with a copy

of the Complaint and Notice of Complaint on May 3, 2006. On

September 8, 2005, in a related case a Grand Jury in the Eastern

District of California indicted Gabriel Schoenstein and others

with violations of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A),

841(b)(1)(D) and 846 - Conspiracy to Distribute and to Possess

With the Intent to Distribute Marijuana, among other drug-related

violations. The criminal case is pending. Accordingly,

Plaintiff seeks to forfeit the Defendant property pursuant to 21

U.S.C. § 881(a)(7). 

2. On July 19, 2006, Daniel A. Bacon and Gabriel

Schoenstein filed claims in this matter. Claimant Daniel A.

Bacon alleges that he has an interest in the Defendant property

of $100,000.00 secured by a Deed of Trust dated March 31, 2006,

and recorded on April 3, 2006, in the Official Records of the

County of Fresno, State of California. Claimant Gabriel

Schoenstein alleges that he is the legal and equitable owner, as

well as legal possessor and occupier of the Defendant real

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property located at 6872 North HASTEN Avenue, Fresno, California.

3. Potential Claimant Flagstar Bank was noticed of this

action by certified mail on April 11, 2006. Plaintiff granted an

extension to file claim and answer until July 3, 2006. Potential

Claimant Flagstar Bank has not yet filed their claim and answer

in this case. 

4. As of the date of the filing of this report, no other

potential claimants have filed claims or answers with the court

in this action. 

IV. Orders Re Amendments To Pleadings.

1. The parties do not anticipate filing any amendments to

the pleadings at this time. 

V. Factual Summary.

A. Admitted Facts Which Are Deemed Proven Without Further

Proceedings. 

1. It is uncontested that the Defendant real property

located at 6872 North Hayston Avenue, Fresno, California, was

posted on May 3, 2006, after a Verified Complaint for Forfeiture

In Rem was filed with the court on April 5, 2006. 

2. It is uncontested that Gabriel Jedidiah

Schoenstein was indicted under 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1),

841(b)(1)(A), and 846 - Conspiracy to Manufacture, to Distribute

and to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Marijuana, 21 U.S.C.

§§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A) and 18 U.S.C. § 2 - Manufacture of

Marijuana and Aiding and Abetting, and 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1),

841(b)(1)(D), and 860; 18 U.S.C. § 2 - Possession with Intent to

Distribute Marijuana Near Secondary School, and Aiding and

Abetting, along with other related charges. 

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B. Contested Facts.

1. Plaintiff contends the facts are as alleged in the

Verified Complaint. 

2. Claimant Schoenstein contends the facts do not

support forfeiture of the subject property and in addition has

alleged several affirmative defenses in his Answer.

3. Claimant Bacon contends the facts do not support

forfeiture of the subject property and further that Claimant

holds a valid Notice and Deed of Trust securing attorney fees in

the sum of $100,000.00. 

VI. Legal Issues.

A. Uncontested.

1. Jurisdiction exists under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1345 and

1344, and 21 U.S.C. § 881. 

2. Venue is proper under 28 U.S.C. § 1395.

B. Contested. 

1. At this time, the disputed legal issues are

identified as whether Gabriel Schoenstein is the legal and

equitable owner of the Defendant real property and whether the

Defendant property is subject to forfeiture.

2. It is also disputed whether Claimant Bacon is a

bona fide purchaser for value as required by 18 U.S.C.

§ 983(d)(3)(A). 

VII. Consent to Magistrate Judge Jurisdiction.

1. The parties have not consented to transfer the 

case to the Magistrate Judge for all purposes, including trial.

VIII. Corporate Identification Statement.

1. Any nongovernmental corporate party to any action in

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this court shall file a statement identifying all its parent

corporations and listing any entity that owns 10% or more of the

party's equity securities. A party shall file the statement with

its initial pleading filed in this court and shall supplement the

statement within a reasonable time of any change in the

information. 

IX. Discovery Plan and Cut-Off Date.

1. The parties do not believe initial disclosures are

necessary or appropriate. 

2. The parties do not believe that non-retained percipient

witness experts such as law enforcement officers need to be

disclosed as experts, or reports produced, under FRCP Rule

26(a)(2) but agree that any expert “retained or specially

employed” by either party shall be disclosed, and a report

produced, in accordance with FRCP Rule 26(a)(2)(B). The parties

agree that, to the extent that drug evidence seized has been, or

will be examined by an employee of any state, local, or federal

agency, that production of the laboratory analysis, in the usual

format provided to criminal Defendants, will satisfy the

requirement of the production of a “report” under FRCP Rule

26(a)(2)(B). 

3. The parties agree that Plaintiff shall disclose the

identity of an expert “retained or specially employed” to provide

expert testimony. 

X. Stay of Action.

1. The parties agree that this action shall be stayed

pending outcome of the parallel criminal case involving Mr.

Schoenstein and others. The parties shall notify the Court upon

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final disposition of the case as to Mr. Schoenstein. 

2. We will set a settlement conference when the final case

schedule is adopted. 

3. The claimants have requested trial by jury. We will

reserve 2 days for trial. No bifurcation is required. 

XI. Related Cases.

1. This action is related to U.S. v. David Crossley, et

al., Case No. 1:05-cr-0315 OWW and U.S. v. Real Property located

at 4720 W. Donner Avenue, Fresno, Fresno County, California, APN:

311-492-29S, Case No. 1:06-cv-0380 OWW SMS.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 24, 2006 /s/ Oliver W. Wanger 

emm0d6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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