Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-01969/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-01969-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 690
Nature of Suit: Other Forfeiture and Penalty Suits
Cause of Action: 49:781 Forfeiture

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff,

v.

APPROXIMATELY $2,770.00 IN U.S.

CURRENCY, and 

2005 CHEVROLET TRUCK, VIN:

2GCEC19T051249989, LICENSE:

7U34478,

Defendants.

 

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

1:09-cv-1969 OWW GSA

ORDER AFTER SCHEDULING

CONFERENCE 

Opposition to Consolidation

of Cases Filing Deadline: 

4/12/10

Reply to Consolidation of

Cases Filing Deadline: 

4/19/10

Order to Show Cause re:

Consolidation of Cases

Hearing Date: 4/26/10 10:00

Ctrm. 3

I. Date of Scheduling Conference.

March 24, 2010.

II. Appearances Of Counsel.

Deanna L. Martinez, Esq., Assistant United States Attorney,

appeared on behalf of Plaintiff. 

No one appeared on behalf of Claimants Alfred Darnell Ford

or Renatta Carter Ford.

III. Summary of Pleadings. 

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

Verified Complaint For Forfeiture In Rem, the government alleges

1

Case 1:09-cv-01969-OWW -GSA Document 16 Filed 03/24/10 Page 1 of 5
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

that the Defendants approximately $2,770.00 in U.S. Currency

(hereafter “Defendant currency”) and 2005 Chevrolet Truck, VIN:

2GCEC19T051249989, License: 7U34478 (hereafter “Defendant

vehicle”) constitute proceeds and/or property used to facilitate

a conspiracy to commit or are traceable to a violation of 18

U.S.C. § 1028(a)(7) [Identity Theft], 18 U.S.C. § 1029 [Credit

Card Fraud], 18 U.S.C. § 1341 [Mail Fraud], 18 U.S.C. § 1343

[Wire Fraud], 18 U.S.C. § 1349 [Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud],

and 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956 and 1957 [Money Laundering], and are

therefore subject to forfeiture pursuant to 18 U.S.C.

§ 981(a)(1)(A) and (a)(1)(C).

2. On June 11, 2009, a Grand Jury in the Eastern District

of California indicted Alfred Darnell Ford for various fraud,

identity theft, and money laundering violations. On September

10, 2009, a Grand Jury indicted Alfred Darnell Ford’s wife,

Renatta Carter Ford, in a superseding indictment. On September

14, 2009, Alfred Darnell Ford entered into a plea agreement

pleading guilty to violations of identity theft and access device

fraud and was subsequently sentenced on January 4, 2010.

3. GMAC Financial Services, Inc. (hereafter “GMAC”) filed

an answer and request for expedited settlement in this action as

an innocent lien holder.

4. On November 24, 2009, Renatta Carter Ford was

personally served with copies of the Complaint, Application and

Order for Publication, Warrant for Arrest of Articles In Rem,

Notice of Related Case, Order Setting Mandatory Scheduling

Conference, Standing Order, Notice of Availability of a

Magistrate Judge, Notice of Availability of Voluntary Dispute

2

Case 1:09-cv-01969-OWW -GSA Document 16 Filed 03/24/10 Page 2 of 5
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Resolution, and Notice of Forfeiture Letter dated November 12,

2009. On November 25, 2009, GMAC was served with notice of the

forfeiture action by certified mail. On January 4, 2010, Alfred

Darnell Ford waived his right to service of the action when he

executed a Stipulation for Final Judgment of Forfeiture

forfeiting his interest in the Defendant assets. To date, only

GMAC has formally appeared in this action.

5. 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. 

6. The government is in communication with Renatta Carter

Ford’s criminal defense counsel and has granted her an extension

of time to answer the government’s complaint while the parties

discuss settlement. 

7. GMAC has a lien claim against the vehicle, but has not

otherwise participated in the action. GMAC is in contact with

the U.S. Attorney. 

IV. Orders Re Amendments To Pleadings.

1. The parties do not anticipate amending the pleadings at

this time. 

V. Factual Summary.

A. Admitted Facts Which Are Deemed Proven Without Further

Proceedings. 

1. The allegations in the Verified Complaint for

Forfeiture In Rem remain uncontested. 

2. GMAC contends it is an innocent lien holder and

seeks to settle its claim to the vehicle. 

///

3

Case 1:09-cv-01969-OWW -GSA Document 16 Filed 03/24/10 Page 3 of 5
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

B. Contested Facts.

1. The remaining facts in the case have not been

contested by any other claimant. 

VI. Legal Issues.

A. Uncontested.

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

1355. 

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

B. Contested. 

1. There appear to be no legal issues in dispute at

this time. 

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

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. Proposed Consolidation. 

1. Based on the relationship of this case to Case Number

1:09-cv-1004 OWW GSA, it appears that the interests of justice

and judicial economy as well as that of the parties will be

served by consolidating these actions for all purposes. 

2. GMAC and any other claimants shall show cause, if any

4

Case 1:09-cv-01969-OWW -GSA Document 16 Filed 03/24/10 Page 4 of 5
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

they have, why this case should not be consolidated for all

purposes including trial with case number 1:09-cv-1004 OWW GSA. 

X. Case Schedule. 

1. Upon consolidation of these cases for all purposes, the

schedule already adopted for the lead case, case number 1:09-cv1004 OWW GSA, shall be adopted in this case. 

2. The hearing date on the Order to Show Cause Re

Consolidation shall be April 26, 2010, at the hour of 10:00 a.m.

in Courtroom 3. Any opposition to the Court’s sua sponte Notice

of Intent to Consolidate Cases for all Purposes, including trial,

shall be filed on or before April 12, 2010. Any reply shall be

filed by April 19, 2010. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 24, 2010 /s/ Oliver W. Wanger 

emm0d6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

5

Case 1:09-cv-01969-OWW -GSA Document 16 Filed 03/24/10 Page 5 of 5