Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_08-cv-02782/USCOURTS-caed-2_08-cv-02782-1/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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LAWRENCE G. BROWN

Acting United States Attorney

SARALYN M. ANG-OLSON, SBN 197404

Special Assistant United States Attorney

501 I Street, Suite 10-100

Sacramento, CA 95814

Telephone: (916) 554-2700

Attorney for Plaintiff

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) 2:08-CV-02782-LKK-DAD

 )

Plaintiff, ) JOINT STATUS (PRETRIAL

 ) SCHEDULING) REPORT, 

v. ) STIPULATION FOR STAY,

 ) ORDER 

APPROXIMATELY $715.00 IN )

U.S. CURRENCY, AND )

) DATE: March 16, 2009 

33 ASSORTED CASHIER’S CHECKS ) TIME: 3:00 p.m.

VALUED AT APPROXIMATELY ) COURTROOM: 4

$66,445.13 IN U.S. CURRENCY, )

)

Defendants. )

 )

Plaintiff United States of America and claimant Rene Wright

submit the following Joint Status (Pretrial Scheduling) Report

pursuant to the Court's December 9, 2008, order.

(a) Names of Parties Represented by Counsel: The United

States Attorney's Office, through the undersigned counsel,

represents the plaintiff United States of America (“the United

States”). James R. Greiner represents claimant Rene Wright

(“Wright”).

//

Case 2:08-cv-02782-KJM-DAD Document 15 Filed 03/05/09 Page 1 of 9
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(b) Summary of Facts and Legal Theories: The United States

alleges that the defendants Approximately $715.00 in U.S. Currency

and 33 Assorted Cashier’s Checks valued at approximately $66,445.13

in U.S. Currency, listed in Exhibit A (collectively, “defendant

assets”) are forfeitable to the United States pursuant to 21 U.S.C.

§ 881(a)(6) because they are proceeds traceable to an exchange for

a controlled substance or listed chemical in violation of 21 U.S.C.

§ 841 et seq. 

The United States also alleges that the defendant assets are

forfeitable pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(A) because Wright

conducted or attempted to conduct financial transactions with

proceeds of drug trafficking, knowing that the transactions were

designed in whole or in part to conceal or disguise the nature,

location, source, or ownership of the proceeds of drug trafficking,

and that while conducting or attempting to conduct such financial

transactions knew that the property involved in the financial

transactions represented the proceeds of some form of unlawful

activity, all in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(B)(I). 

(c) Progress in the Service of Process: All known potential

claimants have been served with the Complaint for Forfeiture In

Rem, Application and Order for Publication, Warrant for Arrest, and

Court Notices. Wright is also represented by Greiner in the

related underlying criminal case, U.S. v. Rene Wright, et al.,

2:08-CR-00212-LKK. Wright received notice of the forfeiture in the

instant action through Greiner, who was served on November 24,

2008, pursuant to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,

Supplemental Rules for Certain Admiralty and Maritime Claims, Rule

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G(4)(b)(iii)(B). Another potential claimant, Robert Murdoch

(“Murdoch”), Wright’s mother, was personally served on December 23,

2008. Accordingly, service is complete.

In addition, notice of the forfeiture was published for 30

consecutive days on the official government Internet site

(www.forfeiture.gov) commencing on December 3, 2008, in accordance

with the Court's December 1, 2008, Order for Publication. Proof of

Publication has been filed with the Court.

Greiner requested from the United States, and the United

States granted, a 30-day extension of time to file a claim in this

action on behalf of Wright. On February 27, 2009, Wright filed her

Verified Statement Of Interest And Claim To The Property,

Approximately $715.00 And 33 Assorted Cashier’s Checks Valued At

Approximately $66,445.13 All In U.S. Currency. 

Murdoch, on the other hand, has not filed any claim in this

action. Because Murdoch was personally served with notice of this

action on December 23, 2008, Murdoch’s time to file a claim has

passed. On February 27, 2009, Greiner represented to counsel for

the United States that he learned recently of Murdoch’s intention 

to file a claim in this action, based on which information Greiner

thereby requested an extension of time on behalf of Murdoch due to

a possible conflict of interest in his legal representation of both

Wright and Murdoch.

(d) Possible Joinder of Additional Parties: None anticipated. 

(e) Any Expected or Desired Amendment of Pleadings: None.

(f) Statutory Basis for Jurisdiction and Venue: The Court has

jurisdiction in this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1345 and

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1355(a). Venue is proper in this district pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§ 1395, 21 U.S.C. § 881(j), and 18 U.S.C. § 981(h).

(g) Anticipated Motions with the Scheduling Thereof: The

United States and Wright request that this case not be scheduled at

this time because they are requesting a stay of further proceedings

until the conclusion of the criminal case as explained in the

following paragraph.

(h) Anticipated Discoverv and the Scheduling Thereof:

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §§ 981(g)(1) and (g)(2) and 21 U.S.C.

§ 881(i), the United States and Wright have agreed to and hereby

request a stay of further proceedings in this case. 

The United States contends that the defendant assets are the

proceeds of drug trafficking, that Wright conducted or attempted to

conduct financial transactions with these proceeds of drug

trafficking under 21 U.S.C. § 841 et seq., and that defendant

assets are therefore forfeitable to the United States under 21

U.S.C. § 881(a)(6) and 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(A).

The United States intends to depose Wright since she has filed

a claim in this case, in order to discover further her involvement

in drug trafficking, as well as the source or sources of the

defendant assets. If discovery proceeds, Wright would be placed in

the difficult position of either invoking her Fifth Amendment right

against self-incrimination and losing the ability to protect her

alleged interest in the defendant assets, or waiving her Fifth

Amendment rights and submitting to depositions, thereby potentially

incriminating herself in the pending and related criminal matter. 

If Wright as a claimant invokes her Fifth Amendment rights, the

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United States will be deprived of the ability to explore the

factual basis for the claim she filed in this action and the

defenses she may raise in any Answer she files.

In addition, Wright as claimant in this action is expected to

attempt to depose law enforcement officers who were involved in the

drug trafficking investigation that resulted in the seizure of the

defendant assets. Allowing depositions of these officers would

adversely affect the ability of the United States to conduct its

related criminal prosecution of Wright.

Accordingly, both the United States and Wright agree that

proceeding with this action at this time has potentially adverse

effects on the prosecution of the related criminal case and/or upon

Wright’s ability to prove her claim to the defendant assets and to

contest the Unites States’ allegations that the defendant assets

are forfeitable. For these reasons, the parties hereby request

that this matter be stayed until the close of the criminal case, at

which time the parties will advise the Court whether a further stay

is necessary.

(i) Further Proceedings and Scheduling of Pretrial Conference

and Trial: None. However, by agreeing to a stay of the civil

action for reasons related to civil discovery and the ongoing

prosecution of a related criminal case under 18 U.S.C. § 981(g),

the United States does not relieve any other potential claimant

from filing a timely verified claim in this action. If within two

weeks of February 27, 2009, or effectively March 13, 2009,

potential claimant Murdoch has not filed any claim, the United

States intends to seek entry of default against Murdoch.

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(j) Appropriateness of Special Procedures: None.

(k) Any Timely Demand for Trial by Jury: None.

(l) Estimate of Trial Time: Not applicable; no trial

demanded.

(m) Modification of Standard Pretrial Procedures: Not

applicable at present time, since parties are requesting a stay.

(n) Related Matters: This case is related to U.S. v. Rene

Wright, et al., 2:08-CR-00212-LKK. A Notice of Related Cases was

filed on November 25, 2008.

(o) Stipulation to Trial Judge as Settlement Judge: Due to

request by parties for a stay, this matter will be addressed after

conclusion.

(p) Report on Use of the Voluntary Dispute Resolution Program

(“VDRP”): The parties do not believe VDRP is appropriate in this

case.

(q) Other Matters:

None known at this time.

DATED: March 2, 2009 LAWRENCE G. BROWN

Acting United States Attorney

/s/ Saralyn M. Ang-Olson 

SARALYN M. ANG-OLSON

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney

Dated: March 2, 2009 /s/ James R. Greiner 

JAMES R. GREINER

Attorney for Claimant 

Rene Wright

(Original signature retained by

attorney)

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ORDER

For the reasons set forth above, this matter is stayed

pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §§ 981(g)(1), 981(g)(2) and 21 U.S.C.

§ 881(I) until the conclusion of the criminal case, at which time

the parties will advise the Court whether a further stay is

necessary.

The Status (Pretrial Scheduling) Conference scheduled for

March 16, 2009, is hereby vacated.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 4, 2009.

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EXHIBIT A

a. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #585090 in the amount of $1,200.00;

b. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #585236 in the amount of $1,000.00;

c. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #587149 in the amount of $500.00;

d. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #585202 in the amount of $1,900.00;

e. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #585275 in the amount of $2,000.00;

f. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #585326 in the amount of $872.50;

g. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #6020955 in the amount of $5,629.15;

h. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #6020987 in the amount of $7,075.60;

I. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #6128863 in the amount of $1,000.00;

j. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #6128934 in the amount of $575.00;

k. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #6129010 in the amount of $575.00;

l. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #6128806 in the amount of $575.00;

m. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #6129102 in the amount of $2,575.00;

n. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #6130048 in the amount of $3,500.00;

o. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #6130046 in the amount of $3,500.00;

p. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #6129134 in the amount of $3,000.00;

q. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #6129292 in the amount of $1,500.00;

r. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #6227319 in the amount of $2,500.00;

s. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #6227359 in the amount of $3,900.00;

t. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #6227394 in the amount of $2,000.00;

u. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #6227419 in the amount of $2,000.00;

v. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #6227420 in the amount of $800.00;

w. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #6227455 in the amount of $3,000.00;

x. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #6227456 in the amount of $1,000.00;

y. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #6227467 in the amount of $1,500.00;

z. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #6227490 in the amount of $1,000.00;

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aa. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #6227551 in the amount of $2,000.00;

bb. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #6227552 in the amount of $1,300.00;

cc. Western Sierra Cashier’s Check #138763 in the amount of

$2,642.88;

dd. Western Sierra Cashier’s Check #139514 in the amount of

$1,450.00;

ee. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #148443 in the amount of $1,000.00;

ff. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #148203 in the amount of $1,150.00; and

gg. Umpqua Cashier’s Check #148296 in the amount of $2,225.00.

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