Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-02539/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-02539-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 625
Nature of Suit: Drug Related Seizure of Property
Cause of Action: 21:881 Forfeiture Property - Aircraft

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McGREGOR W. SCOTT

United States Attorney

JASON HITT

COURTNEY J. LINN

Assistant U.S. Attorneys

501 I Street, 10th Floor

Sacramento, California 95814

Telephone: (916) 554-2700

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) 2:05-CV-02539-GEB-JFM

)

Plaintiff, ) CONSENT JUDGMENT

) OF FORFEITURE

v. )

)

APPROXIMATELY $8,710.00 IN U.S. ) 

CURRENCY, and )

)

APPROXIMATELY $8,790.00 IN U.S. )

CURRENCY, )

)

Defendants. )

___________________________________)

)

ROBERTO C. ROMO, JOSE A. ROMO, )

ARACELI ROMO, and MARIA DE JESUS )

CASILLAS DE ROMO, )

 )

Potential Claimants.)

___________________________________)

Pursuant to the Stipulation for Consent Judgment of

Forfeiture, the Court finds:

1. On June 29, 2005, Roberto Romo was indicted pursuant to 21

U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846. 

2. On May 11, 2005, Roberto Romo drove an individual to a

drug transaction where an undercover agent purchased six ounces of

Case 2:05-cv-02539-GEB -JFM Document 4 Filed 01/26/06 Page 1 of 5
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ice methamphetamine for $4,500.00. On May 26, 2005, this same

individual sold the undercover agent a half pound of ice

methamphetamine for $5,500.00 at a location immediately next to the

hotel where Roberto Romo had previously been followed. Following

this transaction, the individual was observed walking into the

hotel, meeting with Roberto Romo. On June 15, 2005, the individual

agreed to sell the undercover agent one and a half pounds of

methamphetamine. The individual was subsequently observed in the

company of Roberto Romo across the street from the transaction

location and was observed obtaining the methamphetamine from

Roberto Romo and walking it across the street to the undercover

agent where the individual was arrested. On or about June 15,

2005, officers located and seized $8,710.00 in U.S. Currency in

Roberto Romo’s bedroom during the execution of a federal search

warrant at the residence located at 221 Gleason Avenue, Vallejo,

California. In this bedroom, officers also located Roberto Romo’s

indicia as well as a clothing bag identical to the one in which the

methamphetamine had been delivered. Without admitting these facts,

Roberto Romo stipulates that there is a factual basis for

forfeiting the approximately $8,710.00 in U.S. Currency. On June

15, 2005, officers also located and seized $8,790.00 in U.S.

Currency in Raul Romo’s bedroom during the execution of a federal

search warrant at the residence located at 117 Laguna Street,

Vallejo, California. 

3. Roberto Romo has acknowledged that he is the sole owner of

the defendant approximately $8,710.00 in U.S. Currency and that no

other person or entity has any legitimate claim of interest

therein. 

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4. This Court has jurisdiction in this matter pursuant to 28

U.S.C. §§ 1345 and 1355, as this is the judicial district in which

acts or omissions giving rise to the forfeiture occurred.

5. This Court has venue pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1395, as this

is the judicial district in which property was seized.

6. The parties herein desire to settle this matter pursuant

to the terms of a duly executed Stipulation for Consent Judgment of

Forfeiture.

Based upon the above findings, and the Court being otherwise

fully advised in the premises, it is hereby 

ORDERED AND ADJUDGED:

7. The Court adopts the Stipulation for Consent Judgment of

Forfeiture entered into by and between the parties.

8. All right, title and interest in the approximately

$8,710.00 in U.S. Currency seized on or about June 15, 2005, shall

be forfeited to the United States pursuant to 21 U.S.C. §

881(a)(6), to be disposed of according to law.

9. Upon entry of a Consent Judgment of Forfeiture herein, but

no later than 30 days thereafter, the U.S. Marshals Service shall

issue a check in the amount of $8,790.00 in U.S. Currency made

payable to Jose A. Romo, Araceli Romo and Maria de Jesus Casillas

de Romo. Payment shall be sent to attorney Jonathan C. Turner at

Blackmon & Associates located at 813 Sixth Street, Suite 450,

Sacramento, California 95814. 

10. Plaintiff United States of America and its servants,

agents, and employees and all other public entities, their

servants, agents and employees, are released from any and all

liability arising out of or in any way connected with the seizure

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and/or forfeiture of defendant property. This is a full and final

release applying to all unknown and unanticipated injuries, and/or

damages arising out of said seizure and/or forfeiture, as well as

to those now known or disclosed. The parties to the Stipulation

filed herein have agreed to 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."

11. Pursuant to the Stipulation for Consent Judgment of

Forfeiture filed herein, the Court finds that there was probable

cause for the seizure of defendant property, and a Certificate of

Probable Cause pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2465 shall be entered

accordingly.

12. Roberto Romo acknowledges that he obtained, or waived to

obtain, the advice of counsel prior to executing the abovereferenced stipulation, and that he entered into it knowingly and

voluntarily.

13. All parties will bear their own costs and attorneys’

fees.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 25, 2006

/s/ Garland E. Burrell, Jr.

GARLAND E. BURRELL, JR.

United States District Judge

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CERTIFICATE OR REASONABLE CAUSE

Pursuant to the Stipulation for Consent Judgment of Forfeiture

filed herein, the Court enters this Certificate of Reasonable Cause

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2465, that there was reasonable cause for

the seizure of the above-described property.

Dated: January 25, 2006

/s/ Garland E. Burrell, Jr.

GARLAND E. BURRELL, JR.

United States District Judge

Case 2:05-cv-02539-GEB -JFM Document 4 Filed 01/26/06 Page 5 of 5