Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_10-cv-00496/USCOURTS-caed-2_10-cv-00496-2/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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1 Stipulation to Stay Further Proceedings

BENJAMIN B. WAGNER

United States Attorney

SARALYN M. ANG-OLSON, SBN 197404

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, ) 2:10-CV-00496-GEB-GGH

 )

Plaintiff, ) 

 ) 

v. ) STIPULATION TO STAY 

 ) FURTHER PROCEEDINGS AND 

APPROXIMATELY $19,000.00 IN ) ORDER

U.S. CURRENCY, )

 )

APPROXIMATELY $10,000.00 IN U.S. )

CURRENCY, )

 )

APPROXIMATELY $16,929.00 IN )

U.S. CURRENCY, and ) 

 )

ONE 2005 FORD F-150 TRUCK, VIN: )

1FTPW14515FB11508, CALIFORNIA )

LICENSE NUMBER: 8A48619, )

 )

 Defendants. )

 )

Plaintiff United States of America, and claimant Vi Truong

(hereafter “Truong”), by and through their respective counsel,

hereby stipulate that a stay is necessary in the above-entitled

action, and request that the Court enter an order staying all

further proceedings until the conclusion of criminal case against

Truong.

///

Case 2:10-cv-00496-MCE-DB Document 13 Filed 04/01/10 Page 1 of 4
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2 Stipulation to Stay Further Proceedings

Truong has filed a claim to the defendant $19,000.00 and the

defendant $10,000.00, but has not yet filed his Answer and will

not be required to do so until the stay contemplated by this

stipulation expires. 

The Grand Jury in the Eastern District of California

indicted Truong on violations of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1) -

Conspiracy to Manufacture at Least 100 Marijuana Plants and

Manufacture of at Least 100 Marijuana Plants. 

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

981(g)(2), and 21 U.S.C. § 881(i). The plaintiff contends that

the defendant $19,000.00 and the defendant $10,000.00 (hereafter

collectively “defendant currency”) constitute moneys or other

things of value furnished or intended to be furnished by any

person in exchange for a controlled substance or listed chemical

in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 et seq.

The plaintiff intends to depose Truong regarding his claim

and his involvement in and/or knowledge of drug-trafficking; the

source of the funds seized; and other facts as alleged in the

complaint. Truong will likely attempt to depose law enforcement

officers who have been involved in the drug-trafficking

investigation that resulted in the seizure of the defendant

currency and that is the basis for the pending criminal case. If

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

difficult position of either invoking his Fifth Amendment rights

against self-incrimination and losing the ability to pursue his

claim to the defendant currency, or waiving his Fifth Amendment

rights and submitting to a deposition and potentially

incriminating himself. If he invokes his Fifth Amendment rights,

Case 2:10-cv-00496-MCE-DB Document 13 Filed 04/01/10 Page 2 of 4
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3 Stipulation to Stay Further Proceedings

the plaintiff will be deprived of the ability to explore the

factual basis for the claim he filed with this court in this

action.

In addition, to the extent Truong intends to depose, among

others, the agents involved in the underlying investigation. 

Allowing depositions of the law enforcement officers at this time

would adversely affect the United States’ prosecution of the

criminal case against Truong.

The parties recognize that proceeding with this action

at this time has potential adverse effects on the prosecution of

the underlying criminal case and/or upon Truong’s ability to

prove his claim to the defendant currency and to assert any

defenses to the forfeiture. For these reasons, the parties

jointly request that this matter be stayed until the conclusion

of the criminal case. At that time the parties will advise the

court of the status of the criminal case and will advise the

court whether a further stay is necessary.

DATED: 3/30/10 BENJAMIN B. WAGNER

United States Attorney

/s/ Saralyn M. Ang-Olson

 

SARALYN M. ANG-OLSON

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney

Attorneys for the United States

DATED: 3/30/10

/s/ Ray Schwarte, Esq., for:

 

By: Ray Schwarte, Esq., for: 

for DOUGLAS I. HORNGRAD

Attorney for Claimant

Vi Truong

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4 Stipulation to Stay Further Proceedings

ORDER

For the reasons set forth above, this action is stayed

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

Furthermore, Truong’s answer in this civil action must be

filed in this civil action within 20 days after such stay is

lifted.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 31, 2010

 

GARLAND E. BURRELL, JR.

United States District Judge

Case 2:10-cv-00496-MCE-DB Document 13 Filed 04/01/10 Page 4 of 4