Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_08-cv-02782/USCOURTS-caed-2_08-cv-02782-4/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Approximately $66,445.13 in U.S. Currency
Defendant
Approximately $715.00 in U.S. Currency
Defendant
Roberta Murdoch
Claimant
United States of America
Plaintiff
Rene Wright
Claimant

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 

 Plaintiff, 

 v. 

APPROXIMATELY $715.00 IN U.S. 

CURRENCY, AND 

 

33 ASSORTED CASHIER’S CHECKS 

VALUED AT APPROXIMATELY $66,445.13 

IN U.S. CURRENCY, 

 Defendants. 

 2:08-CV-02782-KJM-DAD 

FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORFEITURE

 Upon review of the parties’ Stipulation for Final Judgment of Forfeiture, the court finds: 

1. This is a civil forfeiture action against Approximately $715.00 and 33 Assorted 

Cashier’s Checks Valued at Approximately $66,445.13 in U.S. Currency (collectively “defendant 

assets”) seized on or about April 24, 2008. 

 2. A Verified Complaint for Forfeiture In Rem (“Complaint”) was filed on November 

19,2008, alleging that said defendant assets are subject to forfeiture to the United States pursuant to 

21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(6). 

3. On or about March 24, 2005, the undersigned in her capacity as a U.S. Magistrate Judge 

issued a Warrant and Summons for Arrest for the defendant assets, and that warrant was executed on 

December 8, 2008. 

Case 2:08-cv-02782-KJM-DAD Document 36 Filed 05/21/15 Page 1 of 3
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 4. Beginning on December 3, 2008, for at least 30 consecutive days, the United States 

published Notice of the Forfeiture Action on the official internet government forfeiture site 

www.forfeiture.gov. A Declaration of Publication was filed on January 2, 2009. 

 5. In addition to Public Notice of Arrest and Seizure, actual notice or attempted notice was 

given to the following individuals: 

 a. Rene Wright 

 b. Roberta Murdoch 

 6. Claimant Rene Wright filed a Claim on February 27, 2009, and Roberta Murdoch filed a 

Claim on March 16, 2009. A Stay was entered on March 5, 2009, staying the case pending the 

resolution of the related criminal case, United States v. Rene Wright, et al., 2:08-CR-00212-LKK. The 

criminal case was resolved in May 2012. No other parties have filed claims in this matter, and the time 

in which any person or entity may file a claim and answer has expired. 

Based on the above findings, and the files and records of the Court, it is hereby ORDERED: 

1. The court lifts the stay previously entered on March 5, 2009. 

2. The court adopts the Stipulation for Final Judgment of Forfeiture entered into by and 

between the parties to this action. 

3. Judgment is hereby entered against claimants Rene Wright and Roberta Murdoch and all 

other potential claimants who have not filed claims in this action. 

 4. Upon entry of this Final Judgment of Forfeiture, $37,085.00 from the 33 Cashier’s 

Checks valued at Approximately $66,445.13 in U.S. Currency and $715.00 in U.S. Currency together 

with any interest that may have accrued on the total amount seized, shall be forfeited to the United 

States pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(6), to be disposed of according to law. 

 5. Upon entry of this Final Judgment of Forfeiture, but no later than 60 days thereafter, 

$29,360.13 from the 33 Cashier’s Checks valued at Approximately $66,445.13 in U.S. Currency, shall 

be returned to claimants Rene Wright and Roberta Murdoch, through their attorney James R. Greiner. 

 6. The United States 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. This is a full and final 

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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. 

7. Claimant waived any and all claim or right to interest that may have accrued on the 

defendant currency. 

 8. The United States of America to bear its own costs and attorney’s fees. Claimant Rene 

Wright has court Appointed Counsel pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 983(b)(1)(A), see Court Order 

Docket # 18, and Ms. Wright’s costs and attorney’s fees will be resolved through the Criminal Justice 

Act (“CJA”). Claimant Roberta Murdoch is being represented by James R. Greiner, and Roberta 

Murdoch will bear her own costs and attorney’s fees. 

 9. The undersigned shall retain jurisdiction to enforce the terms of this Final Judgment of 

Forfeiture. 

 10. Based upon the allegations set forth in the complaint filed November 19, 2008, 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 and arrest of the 

defendant currency, and for the commencement and prosecution of this forfeiture action. 

 IT IS SO ORDERED. 

DATED: May 21, 2015. 

Case 2:08-cv-02782-KJM-DAD Document 36 Filed 05/21/15 Page 3 of 3