Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-02777/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-02777-5/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 690
Nature of Suit: Other Forfeiture and Penalty Suits
Cause of Action: 28:1345 Complaint for Forfeiture

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28 1

McGREGOR W. SCOTT

United States Attorney

KRISTIN S. DOOR, SBN 84307

Assistant U.S. Attorney

501 I Street, Suite 10-100

Sacramento, CA 95814

Telephone: (916) 554-2723

Attorney for Plaintiff

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) 2:06-CV-02777-FCD-KJM

)

Plaintiff, ) JOINT REQUEST FOR STAY and

) ORDER THEREON

v. )

)

APPROXIMATELY $28,121.22 IN U.S. )

CURRENCY SEIZED FROM BANK OF )

AMERICA ACCOUNT NO. 03035-08079, )

HELD IN THE NAME OF SMART BUY INC.,)

)

APPROXIMATELY $1,749.09 IN U.S. )

CURRENCY SEIZED FROM WASHINGTON )

MUTUAL ACCOUNT NO. 192-009936-3, )

HELD IN THE NAMES OF TINA MONJAZEB )

AND ALI TAVAF, )

)

APPROXIMATELY $277.84 IN U.S. )

CURRENCY SEIZED FROM UNION BANK OF )

CALIFORNIA ACCOUNT NO. 0361162472, )

HELD IN THE NAME OF LANGROUDI )

FAMILY LIVING TRUST, )

)

APPROXIMATELY $128,000.00 IN U.S. )

CURRENCY SEIZED FROM UNION BANK OF )

CALIFORNIA ACCOUNT NO. 797540, HELD)

IN THE NAME OF LANGROUDI FAMILY )

LIVING TRUST, )

)

APPROXIMATELY $38,225.00 IN U.S. )

CURRENCY, )

)

APPROXIMATELY $4,033.00 IN U.S. )

Case 2:06-cv-02777-FCD-KJM Document 31 Filed 01/15/08 Page 1 of 4
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CURRENCY, )

)

APPROXIMATELY $1,775.51 IN MONEY )

ORDERS, )

)

APPROXIMATELY $12,520.00 IN U.S. )

CURRENCY, )

)

APPROXIMATELY $1,361.00 IN U.S. )

CURRENCY, AND )

)

MISCELLANEOUS OTHER TOBACCO )

PRODUCTS, )

)

Defendants. ) )

Plaintiff United States of America and claimant Ali Tavaf, aka

Ali Langroudi, submit the following Joint Request for Stay and

request that the Court enter an order staying all further

proceedings for six months, until July 20, 2008. The Court

previously entered an order staying all proceedings until January

20, 2008. The parties request that the stay be extended an

additional six months for the following reasons: 

1. Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §§ 981(g)(1), and 981(g)(2) the

parties seek a stay of further proceedings in this civil forfeiture

case. The United States contends that the defendant currency,

money orders, and miscellaneous tobacco products (collectively

referred to as the "defendant assets") are forfeitable to the

United States because they are the proceeds of mail and/or wire

fraud, and/or are traceable to money laundering offenses. The

details of the underlying criminal investigation are set forth in

detail the affidavit of Special Agent Gregory L. Barnett, U.S.

Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and

Explosives, attached as Exhibit A to the Complaint for Forfeiture

Case 2:06-cv-02777-FCD-KJM Document 31 Filed 01/15/08 Page 2 of 4
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In Rem filed on December 8, 2006.

2. The defendant assets were seized from multiple locations

in Los Angeles, California, during the execution of multiple search

warrants and seizure warrants in October, 2006.

3. The United States intends to depose claimant Tavaf so the

United States can question him about various topics, including but

not limited to his knowledge of the operation of Sunrise Tobacco,

Smart Buy, DaBomb, Save a Buck Distributing, and others, and their

payment, or non-payment, of excise taxes due to the State of

California, Board of Equalization, in connection with the sale of

tobacco products. Counsel for claimant Tavaf has informed counsel

for the government that if discovery proceeds, Tavaf would be

placed in the difficult position of either invoking his Fifth

Amendment right against self-incrimination and losing the ability

to protect his interest in the defendant assets, or waiving his

Fifth Amendment right and submitting to a deposition and

potentially incriminating himself in a related criminal

investigation. If Tavaf invokes his Fifth Amendment right, the

United States will be deprived of the ability to explore the

factual basis for the claim he filed with this Court. 

4. In addition, claimant intends to depose federal law

enforcement officers involved in the investigation that led to the

issuance of the search warrants and seizure warrants. However,

the investigation is still ongoing, and allowing depositions of the

law enforcement investigators involved in the criminal

investigation would adversely affect the ability of the U.S.

Attorney's Office to properly investigate and prosecute their case.

Case 2:06-cv-02777-FCD-KJM Document 31 Filed 01/15/08 Page 3 of 4
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5. Accordingly, the parties recognize that proceeding with

this action at this time has potential adverse affects on the

related criminal investigation and/or upon claimant's ability to

prove his claim that the defendant assets belongs to him, and that

they came from legitimate sources. For these reasons, the parties

jointly request that this matter be stayed an additional six months

until July 20, 2008. At that time the parties will advise the

court of the status of the criminal investigation and will, if

necessary, seek a further stay.

Dated: January 14, 2008 McGREGOR W. SCOTT

United States Attorney

By /s Kristin S. Door KRISTIN S. DOOR

Assistant U.S. Attorney

Dated: January 14, 2008 /s/ Harvey Byron HARVEY BYRON

Attorney for claimant

Ali Tavaf, aka Ali Langroudi

(Original signature retained in

Plaintiff's file)

ORDER

For the reasons set forth above, this matter is stayed

pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §§ 981(g)(1) and 981(g)(2) until July 20,

2008. On or before July 20, 2008, the parties will advise the

court of the status of the related investigation and whether a

further stay is necessary. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 15, 2008 

Case 2:06-cv-02777-FCD-KJM Document 31 Filed 01/15/08 Page 4 of 4