Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_09-cv-02717/USCOURTS-caed-2_09-cv-02717-1/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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1 Stipulation to Stay Proceedings and Order

BENJAMIN B. WAGNER

United States Attorney

JEAN M. HOBLER

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney

501 I Street, Suite 10-100

Sacramento, CA 95814

Telephone: (916)554-2700

Attorneys for Plaintiff

United States of America

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) 2:09-CV-02717-GEB-DAD

)

Plaintiff, ) STIPULATION TO STAY

) FURTHER PROCEEDINGS

v. ) AND ORDER

)

APPROXIMATELY $18,753.61 IN U.S. )

CURRENCY SEIZED FROM WELLS FARGO )

BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER 2503034494 )

HELD IN THE NAME OF SENG K. HUON, )

and )

)

APPROXIMATELY $10,000 IN U.S. )

CURRENCY SEIZED FROM WELLS FARGO )

BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER 5205402760 )

HELD IN THE NAME OF SENG K. HUON )

)

Defendant. )

 )

Plaintiff United States of America, and Claimant Seng Huon

(“Claimant”) hereby stipulate that a stay is necessary in the

above-entitled action, and request that the Court enter an order

staying all further proceedings for a period of six months pending

the outcome of a related criminal investigation regarding

Claimants. The Stipulation to Stay is based upon the following:

1. On September 29, 2009, plaintiff filed a Complaint for

Forfeiture In Rem against the above-captioned funds seized from

Case 2:09-cv-02717-GEB-DAD Document 12 Filed 01/21/10 Page 1 of 4
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2 Stipulation to Stay Proceedings and Order

Claimant. Claimant filed a claim to the defendant funds on

November 16, 2009.

2. The stay is requested pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §§ 981(g)(1)

and 981(g)(2). Plaintiff contends that Claimant structured

transactions by conducting currency deposits with the intent to

cause or attempt to cause a domestic financial institution to fail

to file a Currency Transaction Report, and that the defendant funds

are therefore subject to forfeiture to the United States pursuant

to 18 U.S.C. § 984 and 31 U.S.C. § 5317(c)(2), incorporating the

procedures governing civil forfeitures in money laundering cases

pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(A). As an alternate theory,

plaintiff alleges that Claimant structured currency deposit

transactions by breaking them into amounts at or below $10,000 to

avoid the currency transaction requirement, and that the defendant

funds are therefore subject to forfeiture to the United States

pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 984 and 31 U.S.C. § 5317(c)(2),

incorporating the procedures governing civil forfeitures in money

laundering cases pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(A).

3. To date Claimant has not been charged with any criminal

offense by state, local, or federal authorities, and the statute of

limitations has not expired on potential criminal charges relating

to the structuring offenses underlying this forfeiture case. 

Nevertheless, plaintiff intends to depose Claimant regarding his

involvement in structuring currency transactions and to demand

production of documents from Claimant regarding the same. If

discovery proceeds at this time, Claimant will be placed in the

difficult position of either invoking his Fifth Amendment right

against self-incrimination and losing the ability to pursue his

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3 Stipulation to Stay Proceedings and Order

claims to the defendant funds, or waiving his Fifth Amendment right

and submitting to a deposition and document production and

potentially incriminating himself. If he invoke his Fifth

Amendment rights, plaintiff will be deprived of the ability to

explore the factual basis for the claim Claimant filed with this

court.

4. In addition, Claimant may wish to depose law enforcement

officers who were involved in the investigation. Allowing

depositions of the law enforcement officers would adversely affect

the ability of the United States to conduct its related criminal

investigation.

 5. Accordingly, the parties contend that proceeding with

this action at this time has potential adverse affects on the

investigation of the underlying criminal conduct and/or upon the

Claimant’s ability to prove his claim to the property and to assert

any defenses to forfeiture. For these reasons, the parties jointly

request that this matter be stayed for six months. At that time

the parties will advise the court of the status of the criminal

investigation, if any, and will advise the court whether a further

stay is necessary. 

6. The parties request that the status conference currently

scheduled for February 1, 2010, is rescheduled for September 20,

2010, at 9:00 a.m. A joint status report is to be filed fourteen

days prior to the hearing.

DATED: BENJAMIN B. WAGNER 

United States Attorney

JEAN M. HOBLER

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4 Stipulation to Stay Proceedings and Order

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney

DATED:

SENG HUON, Claimant (in pro per)

ORDER

For the reasons set forth above, this matter is stayed

pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §§ 981(g)(1) and 981(g)(2) for a period of

six months. The status conference currently scheduled for February

1, 2010, is vacated and will be rescheduled to atat

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

is necessary. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 20, 2010

GARLAND E. BURRELL, JR.

United States District Judge

to September 20, 2010, at 9:00 a.m.

at which time

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