Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-mc-00121/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-mc-00121-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Approximately $5,000.00 in U.S. Currency
Defendant
United States of America
Plaintiff

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1

McGREGOR W. SCOTT

United States Attorney

BENJAMIN B. WAGNER

Assistant U.S. Attorney

501 "I" Street, Suite 10-100

Sacramento, California 95814

Telephone: (916) 554-2745

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) 2:07-MC-00121-DLJ-GGH

)

Plaintiff, ) CONSENT JUDGMENT

) OF FORFEITURE

v. )

)

APPROXIMATELY $5,000.00 IN U.S. )

CURRENCY, )

)

Defendant. )

___________________________________)

)

CHAO LEE, )

)

Potential Claimant. )

___________________________________)

Pursuant to the Stipulation for Consent Judgment of

Forfeiture, the Court finds:

1. On August 24, 2006, Chao Lee was indicted pursuant to 18

U.S.C. § 1955(a). A Superseding Indictment was filed December 14,

2006, charging Chao Lee with a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1955(a). 

2. Throughout 2006, prior to the execution of the search

warrant on August 16, 2006, Chao Lee assisted Prasert Somsinsawasdi

in the operation of an illegal gambling business that operated in

violation of California law, and which involved more than five

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participants who conducted, managed and directed the business. The

illegal gambling business was in operation for more than 30

continuous days before August 16, 2006. Chao Lee assisted in the

operation of the illegal gambling business by taking illegal bets

from numerous bettors on a daily basis in his home at 3833

Sparrowood Way in Sacramento. Bettors placed their bets by

providing U.S. currency. Prasert Somsinsawasdi delivered betting

tally sheets to, and picked up cash from, the Sparrowood Way

residence on a weekly basis. 

3. Pursuant to his arrangement with Prasert Somsinsawasdi to

assist the illegal gambling business, Chao Lee received a 5%

commission on the gross value of bets placed at his residence. 

Such commissions were paid in U.S. currency and were Chao Lee’s

primary income during the months preceding August 16, 2006. During

the execution of a search warrant at the Sparrowood Way residence

on August 16, 2006, agents seized approximately $5,000 in U.S.

currency (“defendant currency”). 

4. Chao Lee acknowledges that he is the sole owner of the

defendant currency and that no other person or entity has any

legitimate claim of interest therein. Should any person or entity

institute any kind of claim or action against the government with

regard to its forfeiture of the defendant currency, Chao Lee shall

hold harmless and indemnify the United States, as set forth below.

5. 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. 

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

is the judicial district in which the property was seized. 

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7. 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 files and records of

the Court, it is hereby ORDERED AND ADJUDGED:

8. The Court adopts the Stipulation for Consent Judgment of

Forfeiture entered into by and between the parties.

9. All right, title, and interest in the approximately

$5,000.00 in U.S. Currency seized on or about August 16, 2006,

shall be forfeited to the United States pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §

981(a)(1)(C), to be disposed of according to law.

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

and/or forfeiture of the defendant currency. 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 reasonable

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

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

accordingly.

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

fees.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: October 29, 2007 /s/ D. Lowell Jensen 

United States District Judge

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 defendant currency.

DATED: October 29, 2007 /s/ D. Lowell Jensen 

United States District Judge

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