Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-02941/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-02941-4/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Ashley Chang
Claimant
Robert Chomentowski
Claimant
LC Equity Group, Inc.
Claimant
Real Property located at 1724 S Street, Sacramento, California
Defendant
Real Property located at 2381 Kenworthy Way, Sacramento, California
Defendant
Real Property located at 7455 Willowwick Way, Sacramento, California
Defendant
Real Property located at 7520 Muirfield Way, Sacramento, California
Defendant
United States of America
Plaintiff

Document Text:

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Stipulation for a Stay of Further Proceedings

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff,

v.

REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 7520 

MUIRFIELD WAY, SACRAMENTO, 

CALIFORNIA, SACRAMENTO COUNTY, 

APN: 048-0270-043-0000, INCLUDING ALL 

APPURTENANCES AND IMPROVEMENTS 

THERETO, 

REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 7455 

WILLOWWICK WAY, SACRAMENTO, 

CALIFORNIA, SACRAMENTO COUNTY, 

APN: 047-0265-009-0000, INCLUDING ALL 

APPURTENANCES AND IMPROVEMENTS 

THERETO,

REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2381 

KENWORTHY WAY, SACRAMENTO, 

CALIFORNIA, SACRAMENTO COUNTY, 

APN: 053-0021-010-0000, INCLUDING ALL 

APPURTENANCES AND IMPROVEMENTS 

THERETO, and 

REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1724 S 

STREET, SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, 

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, APN: 009-0096-

008-0000, INCLUDING ALL 

APPURTENANCES AND IMPROVEMENTS

THERETO, 

Defendants.

2:14-CV-02941-GEB-DAD

STIPULATION TO STAY FURTHER 

PROCEEDINGS AND ORDER

DATE: N/A

TIME: N/A

COURTROOM: N/A

BENJAMIN B. WAGNER

United States Attorney

KEVIN C. KHASIGIAN

Assistant U. S. Attorney

501 I Street, Suite 10-100

Sacramento, CA 95814

Telephone: (916) 554-2700

Attorneys for the United States

Case 2:14-cv-02941-GEB-DAD Document 22 Filed 04/20/15 Page 1 of 3
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Stipulation for a Stay of Further Proceedings

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The United States and Claimants Ashley Chang, Robert Chomentowski and LC Equity Group, 

Inc. (“claimants”) 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 July 13, 2015. 

1. Claimants have filed claims in this in rem forfeiture action, asserting they have an 

interest in the defendant assets. ECF Nos. 12, 13 and 14. Answers will not be required until the stay 

contemplated by this stipulation expires.

2. The stay is requested pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §§ 981(g)(1), 981(g)(2), and 21 U.S.C. § 

881(i). The United States contends that the defendant assets were money furnished and intended to be 

furnished in exchange for a controlled substance or listed chemical, constituted proceeds traceable to 

such an exchange, and was used and intended to be used to commit or facilitate a violation of 21 U.S.C. 

§§ 841. Claimant Chang denies these allegations.

3. Claimant Ashley Chang has been charged with federal crimes related to drug trafficking

related to the defendant assets, United States. v. Guo Neng Ma and Ashley Chang, 2:14-CR-00330-

GEB. It is the United States’ position that the statute of limitations has not expired on potential 

criminal charges relating to the drug trafficking involving the defendant assets. Nevertheless, the 

United States intends to depose the claimant regarding her ownership of the defendant assets, as well as 

her knowledge of the marijuana trafficking. If discovery proceeds at this time, claimant Chang will be 

placed in the difficult position of either invoking her Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination 

and losing the ability to pursue her claim to the defendant assets, or waiving her Fifth Amendment 

rights and submitting to a deposition and potentially incriminating herself. If she invokes her Fifth 

Amendment rights, the United States will be deprived of the ability to explore the factual basis for the 

claim she filed with this court.

4. In addition, the claimant intends to depose, among others, the agents involved with this 

investigation, including but not limited to, the agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration. 

Allowing depositions of the law enforcement officers at this time would adversely impact the federal

prosecution.

5. The parties recognize that proceeding with these actions at this time has potential 

adverse effects on the investigation of the underlying criminal conduct and/or upon the claimant’s

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Stipulation for a Stay of Further Proceedings

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ability to assert any defenses to forfeiture. For these reasons, the parties jointly request that the matter 

be stayed and all further proceedings be taken off calendar until July 13, 2015, in accordance with the 

terms of this stipulation. 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: 4/17/15 BENJAMIN B. WAGNER

United States Attorney

By: /s/ Kevin C. Khasigian

KEVIN C. KHASIGIAN

Assistant U.S. Attorney

Dated: 4/17/15 /s/ Timothy Zindel

TIMOTHY ZINDEL

Attorney for Claimant Ashley Chang

(As authorized via email)

Dated: 4/14/15 /s/ Richard J. Reynolds

RICHARD J. REYNOLDS

Attorney for Claimants 

Robert Chomentowski and LC Equity Group, Inc.

(As authorized via phone)

Dated: 4/17/15 /s/ Megan E. Gruber

MEGAN E. GRUBER

Attorney for Claimant Green Tree Servicing LLC

(As authorized via phone)

ORDER

For the reasons set forth above, this matter is stayed and all further proceedings shall be taken 

off calendar pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §§ 981(g)(1), 981(g)(2), and 21 U.S.C. § 881(i) until July 13, 2015, 

at which time the parties will advise the Court whether a further stay is necessary.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 17, 2015

Case 2:14-cv-02941-GEB-DAD Document 22 Filed 04/20/15 Page 3 of 3