Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-06198/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-06198-0/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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McGREGOR W. SCOTT

United States Attorney

KRISTI C. KAPETAN

Assistant U.S. Attorney

3654 Federal Building

1130 O Street

Fresno, California 93721

Telephone: (559) 498-7272

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff,

v.

$14,448.00 IN U.S. CURRENCY, et al., 

 Defendants,

CIV-F-03-6198 OWW SMS

STIPULATION AND ORDER FOR FINAL

JUDGMENT OF FORFEITURE OF $5,088.00

AND $5,637.00 IN U.S. CURRENCY

PEDRO HERRERA LOPEZ and ESTELLE

LOPEZ,

 Claimants.

It is hereby stipulated by and between plaintiff United States of America and Claimants

Pedro Herrera Lopez and Estelle Lopez, and their counsel of record as follows: 

1. This is a civil forfeiture action against defendants $5,088.00 and $5,637.00 in U.S.

Currency.

2. A Verified Complaint for Forfeiture In Rem was filed on September 4, 2003, seeking the

forfeiture of defendants $5,088.00 and $5,637.00 in U.S. Currency (hereinafter "defendant

currency"). The Complaint alleges that the defendant currency is subject to forfeiture to the United

States of America pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(6) because the defendant currency constitutes

moneys or other things of value furnished or intended to be furnished in exchange of a controlled

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substance, and/or was used or intended to be used to facilitate one or more violations of 21 U.S.C. §

841 et seq. 

3. On February 9, 2004, in accordance with said Complaint, a Warrant of Arrest of the

defendant currency was issued and duly executed on February 26, 2004. 

4. On or about March 25, 2004, a Public Notice of Arrest of defendant currency appeared by

publication in the Visalia Times-Delta, a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the

defendant currency was seized (Tulare County). The Proof of Publication was filed with the Court

on April 19, 2004.

5. On December 29, 2003, Claimant Pedro Herrera Lopez filed a claim to defendant

$5,088.88 in U.S. Currency and Claimant Estelle Lopez filed a claim to defendant $5,637.00 in U.S.

Currency. Claimants filed an answer to the complaint on February 13, 2004. No other parties have

filed claims or answers regarding defendants $5,088.00 and $5,637.00 in U.S. Currency, and the time

for which any person or entity may file a claim and answer has expired. Pedro Herrera Lopez

represents and warrants that he is the sole owner of defendant $5,088.00 in U.S. Currency. Estelle

Lopez represents and warrants that she is the sole owner of defendant $5,637.00 in U.S. Currency. 

6. The parties to this action desire to settle this forfeiture action regarding defendants

$5,088.00 and $5,637.00 in U.S. Currency.

7. Upon execution of this Stipulation, Claimant Pedro Herrera Lopez agrees to forfeit his

right, title and interest in $4,088.00 of the $5,088.00 in U.S. Currency, together with any interest that

may have accrued on that amount, to the United States, to be disposed of according to law.

8. Upon execution of this Stipulation, Claimant Estelle Lopez agrees to forfeit her right, title

and interest in $4,637.00 of the $5,637.00 in U.S. Currency, together with any interest that may have

accrued on that amount, to the United States, to be disposed of according to law. 

9. Upon the filing of this Stipulation and Order For Final Judgment of Forfeiture herein, but

no later than 30 days thereafter, $1,000.00 of the $5,088.00 in U.S. Currency, together with any

interest that may have accrued on that amount, shall be returned to Claimant Pedro Herrera Lopez

through his attorney, Victor M. Perez. The U.S. Marshals Service shall issue a check in the amount

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of $1,000.00, plus any accrued interest on that amount, made payable to Pedro Herrera Lopez and

send it to Victor M. Perez, Esq., at 1304 W. Center Street, Visalia, California, 93257.

10. Upon the filing of this Stipulation and Order For Final Judgment of Forfeiture herein, but

no later than 30 days thereafter, $1,000.00 of the $5,637.00 in U.S. Currency, together with any

interest that may have accrued on that amount, shall be returned to Claimant Estelle Lopez through

her attorney, Victor M. Perez. The U.S. Marshals Service shall issue a check in the amount of

$1,000.00, plus any accrued interest on that amount, made payable to Estelle Lopez and send it to

Victor M. Perez, Esq., at 1304 W. Center Street, Visalia, California, 93257.

11. All parties to this stipulation hereby release plaintiff United States of America and its

servants, agents, and employees and all other public entities, their servants, agents, and employees,

from any and all liability arising out of or in any way connected with the arrest/seizure or forfeiture

of defendant currency. This is a full and final release applying to all unknown and unanticipated

injuries, and/or damages arising out of said arrest or forfeiture, as well as to those now known or

disclosed. The parties to this stipulation waive the provisions of California Civil Code §1542, which

provides: "A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect

to exist in his favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by him must have materially

affected his settlement with the debtor.".

12. The parties to this Stipulation stipulate that there was reasonable cause for the

seizure/arrest of defendant currency pursuant to the Verified Complaint For Forfeiture In Rem filed

September 4, 2003, and the Court may enter a Certificate of Reasonable Cause pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§ 2465.

13. Claimants Pedro Herrera Lopez and Estelle Lopez acknowledge that they have obtained

the advice of counsel, or have declined to do so and that they are entering into this stipulation

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knowingly and voluntarily. 

14. All parties are to bear their own costs and attorneys' fees.

DATED: 5/17/05 McGREGOR W. SCOTT

United States Attorney

/s/ Kristi C. Kapetan

KRISTI C. KAPETAN

Assistant U.S. Attorney

DATED: 5/9/05 /s/ Pedro H. Lopez 

PEDRO HERRERA LOPEZ

Claimant

DATED: 5/9/05 /s/ Estelle Lopez 

ESTELLE LOPEZ

Claimant

DATED: 4-20-05 /s/ Victor M. Perez 

VICTOR M. PEREZ

Counsel for Claimants Pedro Herrera Lopez and

Estelle Lopez

(original signatures retained by attorney)

The U.S. Marshals Service shall return $1,000.00 each, plus any interest that has accrued on

that amount, as described in paragraphs 9 and 10 above to Claimants Pedro Herrera Lopez and

Estelle Lopez within 30 days from the filing of this Stipulation and Order.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: May 20, 2005 /s/ OLIVER W. WANGER 

OLIVER W. WANGER

United States District Judge

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