Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00246/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00246-1/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff,

v.

2003 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER,

VIN: SALME 11443A132891, LICENSE

NUMBER: 5BNH073,

Defendant.

 

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1:06-cv-0246 OWW TAG

ORDER AFTER SCHEDULING

CONFERENCE 

Further Scheduling

Conference Date: 10/13/06

8:45 Ctrm. 3

I. Date of Scheduling Conference.

August 11, 2006.

II. Appearances Of Counsel.

Stephanie Hamilton Borchers, Esq., Assistant United States

Attorney, appeared on behalf of Plaintiff.

Gloria Zarco, Esq., appeared on behalf of Lienholder Land

Rover Capital Group. 

III. Summary of Pleadings. 

1. This is an in rem civil forfeiture action. In its

Verified Complaint for Forfeiture In Rem, the government alleges

that the Defendant vehicle constitutes a conveyance used or

intended to be used to transport, or to facilitate the

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transportation, sale, receipt, possession, or concealment of a

controlled substance and is subject to forfeiture to the United

States pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(4).

2. The Defendant 2003 Land Rover Range Rover, VIN:

SALME11443A132891, License Number 5BNH073 (hereinafter the

“Defendant vehicle”), was seized on July 27, 2005, on land in the

Eastern District of California by the Drug Enforcement

Administration (“DEA”). On March 17, 2006, the Defendant vehicle

was arrested pursuant to the Warrant and Summons of Arrest issued

by U.S. Magistrate Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill. The action was

published on April 6, 2006, in The Daily Report (Kern County)

pursuant to the Order of Publication filed March 12, 2006. The

Proof of Publication was filed on April 17, 2006.

3. On or about March 10, 2006, the government sent copies

of the Complaint, Application and Order for Publication, Warrant

and Summons for Arrest, Order Setting Mandatory Scheduling

Conference, Notice of Availability of Magistrate Judge, standing

order in all civil cases assigned to U.S. District Judge Oliver

W. Wanger and Notice of Availability Voluntary Dispute Resolution

to Ray C. Sharpe at 4625 Wynn Road, Suite 223, Las Vegas, Nevada

89103, by certified mail receipt number 7002 2030 0001 4136 1796. 

On or about April 4, 2006, the United States Attorney’s Office

received the certified mail receipt signed received by Ray

Sharpe.

4. Additionally, on March 20, 2006, a Deputy U.S. Marshal

attempted to personally serve copies of the above listed

documents on Ray c. Sharpe at his last known address located at

1090 South Third Avenue, Chula Vista, California 91911. The

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address was a strip mall and the Deputy U.S. Marshal was unable

to serve Mr. Sharpe.

5. On or about May 2, 2006, counsel for Plaintiff was

contacted by the law firm of Byers & Warrick, seeking an

extension of time to file a claim and answer on behalf of Mr.

Sharpe. Plaintiff granted Mr. Sharpe an extension until July 17. 

On July 17, Plaintiff was contacted by Daniel Ponce of Byers &

Warrick seeking an additional one week extension on Mr. Sharpe’s

behalf. Mr. Ponce indicated they needed the additional time to

determine whether Mr. Sharpe wanted to pursue a claim. To date,

no claim or answer has been filed by Mr. Sharpe and no further

extension of time has been sought by Mr. Sharpe or any attorney

on Mr. Sharpe’s behalf.

6. On May 3, 2006, Richard Alexander Garcia was personally

served with copies of the Complaint, Application and Order for

Publication, Warrant and Summons for Arrest, Order Setting

Mandatory Scheduling Conference, Notice of Availability of

Magistrate Judge, standing order in all civil cases assigned to

U.S. District Judge Oliver W. Wanger and Notice of Availability

Voluntary Dispute Resolution.

7. Lienholder Land Rover Capital Group (hereinafter

“Capital Group”), has filed a claim and answer in this action

claiming an interest in the Defendant vehicle. Capital Group

intends to request an expedited settlement with the government.

8. To date, no other potential claimants have filed a

claim or answer in this action.

9. By virtue of the inability to communicate the

government intends to file Requests for Clerk’s Defaults as to

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both Ray C. Sharpe and Richard Alexander Garcia.

IV. Orders Re Amendments To Pleadings.

1. The parties do not anticipate filing any amendments to

the pleadings at this time. 

V. Factual Summary.

A. Admitted Facts Which Are Deemed Proven Without Further

Proceedings. 

1. The Defendant 2003 Land Rover Range Rover VIN:

SALME11443A132891, was seized on July 27, 2005, in the Eastern

District of California by the DEA. 

2. On March 27, 2006, the Defendant vehicle was

arrested pursuant to Warrant and Summons of Arrest issued by

Magistrate Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill.

3. The action was published on April 6, 2006, in The

Daily Report (Kern County) pursuant to order of publication filed

March 12, 2006.

4. Proof of publication was filed April 17, 2006. 

B. Contested Facts.

1. The nature and priority of Land Rover Capital

Group’s lien claim. 

2. Right to forfeit the Defendant vehicle.

VI. Legal Issues.

A. Uncontested.

1. Jurisdiction exists under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1345 and

1355 and 21 U.S.C. § 881. 

2. Venue is proper under 28 U.S.C. § 1395.

B. Contested. 

1. All other legal issues are contested.

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VII. Consent to Magistrate Judge Jurisdiction.

1. The parties have not consented to transfer the 

case to the Magistrate Judge for all purposes, including trial.

VIII. Corporate Identification Statement.

1. Any nongovernmental corporate party to any action in

this court shall file a statement identifying all its parent

corporations and listing any entity that owns 10% or more of the

party's equity securities. A party shall file the statement with

its initial pleading filed in this court and shall supplement the

statement within a reasonable time of any change in the

information. 

IX. Further Scheduling Conference.

1. A further scheduling conference shall be held in this

case on October 13, 2006, at 8:45 a.m. The government shall

proceed to files its Request for Entry of Default. The appearing

parties are encouraged to communicate and to determine whether

they can resolve any issues that exist between them. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 17, 2006 /s/ Oliver W. Wanger 

emm0d6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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