Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_09-cv-03110/USCOURTS-caed-2_09-cv-03110-2/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 Final Judgment of Forfeiture

BENJAMIN B. WAGNER

United States Attorney

KRISTIN S. DOOR, SBN 84307

Assistant United States Attorney

501 I Street, Suite 10-100

Sacramento, CA 95814

Telephone: (916)554-2723

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-03110-JAM-EFB

)

Plaintiff, ) 

) 

v. ) FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORFEITURE 

) 

APPROXIMATELY $71,115.00 IN )

U.S. CURRENCY, )

)

 Defendant. )

______________________________)

Pursuant to the Stipulation for Final Judgment of

Forfeiture, the Court finds: 

1. This is a civil forfeiture action against Approximately

$71,115.00 in U.S. Currency (hereafter “defendant currency”).

2. A Verified Complaint for Forfeiture In Rem (“Complaint”)

was filed on November 6, 2009, alleging that said defendant

currency is subject to forfeiture to the United States of America

pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(6).

3. On or about November 17, 2009, the Clerk issued a

Warrant for Arrest for the defendant currency, and that warrant

was duly executed on November 17, 2009.

4. Beginning on November 11, 2009, for at least 30

consecutive days, the United States published Notice of the

Case 2:09-cv-03110-JAM-EFB Document 28 Filed 08/24/10 Page 1 of 4
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 2 Final Judgment of Forfeiture

Forfeiture Action on the official internet government forfeiture

site www.forfeiture.gov. A Declaration of Publication was filed

on December 14, 2009.

5. In addition to the public notice on the official

internet government forfeiture site www.forfeiture.gov, actual

notice was given to the following individuals:

a. Jesus Espinoza

b. Benjamin Ritter

c. Christopher Moran

6. On December 18, 2009, Jesus Espinoza (“claimant”) filed

a Claim Opposing Forfeiture. On January 15, 2010, Jesus Espinoza

filed an Answer. No other parties have filed claims or answers

in this matter and the time for which any person or entity may

file a claim and answer has expired. 

7. The Clerk of the Court entered a Clerk's Certificate of

Entry of Default against Benjamin Ritter and Christopher Moran on

January 29, 2010. Pursuant to Local Rule 540, the United States

and claimant thus join in a request that as part of the Final

Judgment of Forfeiture in this case the Court enter a default

judgment against the interest, if any, of Benjamin Ritter and

Christopher Moran without further notice.

Based on the above findings, and the files and records of

the Court, it is hereby ORDERED AND ADJUDGED:

1. The Court adopts the Stipulation for Final Judgment of

Forfeiture entered into by and between the parties to this

action.

2. That judgment is hereby entered against claimant Jesus

Espinoza and all other potential claimants who have not filed

claims in this action.

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 3 Final Judgment of Forfeiture

3. Upon entry of this Final Judgment of Forfeiture,

$56,892.00 of the $71,115.00 in U.S. Currency, together with any

interest that may have accrued on that amount, shall be forfeited

to the United States pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(6), to be

disposed of according to law.

4. Upon entry of this Final Judgment of Forfeiture herein,

but no later than 60 days thereafter, $14,223.00 of the

$71,115.00 in U.S. Currency, together with any interest that may

have accrued on that amount, shall be returned to claimant Jesus

Espinoza through his attorney Donald H. Heller. 

5. That 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, arrest, or forfeiture of the defendant currency, and for 

the commencement and prosecution of this forfeiture action. This

is a full and final release applying to all unknown and

unanticipated injuries, and/or damages arising out of said

seizure, arrest, or forfeiture, as well as to those now known or

disclosed. The parties waived the provisions of California Civil

Code § 1542. 

6. Claimant waived any and all claim or right to interest

that may have accrued on the defendant currency being forfeited

to the United States.

7. That pursuant to the stipulation of the parties, and the

allegations set forth in the Complaint filed on November 6, 2009,

the Court finds that there was reasonable cause for the seizure

and arrest of the defendant currency, and for the commencement

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 4 Final Judgment of Forfeiture

and prosecution of this forfeiture action, and a Certificate of

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

accordingly.

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

fees.

9. The Court shall maintain jurisdiction to enforce the

terms of this Final Judgment of Forfeiture.

SO ORDERED THIS 23 day of August, 2010. rd

/s/ John A. Mendez 

JOHN A. MENDEZ

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

CERTIFICATE OF REASONABLE CAUSE

Based upon the allegations set forth in the Complaint filed 

November 6, 2009, and the Stipulation for Final 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 or arrest of the defendant

currency, and for the commencement and prosecution of this

forfeiture action.

DATED: August 23, 2010

/s/ John A. Mendez 

JOHN A. MENDEZ

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 2:09-cv-03110-JAM-EFB Document 28 Filed 08/24/10 Page 4 of 4