Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_16-mc-00036/USCOURTS-caed-2_16-mc-00036-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Approximately $20,000.00 in U.S. Currency
Defendant
United States of America
Plaintiff

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

APPROXIMATELY $20,000.00 IN U.S. 

CURRENCY, 

Defendant. 

No. 2:16-mc-00036-KJM-KJN 

ORDER 

As provided by the Stipulation for Consent Judgment of Forfeiture, the Court finds: 

 1. On August 14, 2015, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) 

contacted Dupree at the Sacramento International Airport in Sacramento, California. 

Approximately $20,000.00 in U.S. Currency (defendant currency) was seized from Dupree 

during this encounter. 

2. The DEA commenced administrative forfeiture proceedings, sending direct 

written notice to all known potential claimants and publishing notice to all others. 

3. The United States represents that it could show at a forfeiture trial that an agent 

with the DEA approached Malachi Rashad Dupree (Dupree) and asked for permission to speak 

with him. Dupree agreed and told the agent he was traveling from Baltimore, Maryland to 

purchase “sneakers” from a wholesaler in Sacramento. Dupree said he was carrying $20,000.00 

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in cash that his uncle, Eric Ezenwanne, had given him to purchase shoes for his uncle’s store. 

Dupree agreed to a consensual search of his carry-on luggage. During the search, agents found 

several rubber-banded stacks of cash concealed within a cloth shoe bag. The cash was 

comprised of various denominations, totaling $20,000.00. 

4. The United States could further show at a forfeiture trial that the defendant 

currency is forfeitable to the United States pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(6). 

 5. Without admitting the truth of the factual assertions contained in this stipulation, 

claimant specifically denying the same, and for the purpose of reaching an amicable resolution 

and compromise of this matter, claimant agrees that an adequate factual basis exists to support 

forfeiture of the defendant currency. Dupree hereby 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, claimant shall hold harmless 

and indemnify the United States, as set forth below. 

 6. 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. 

 7. This Court has venue pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1395, as this is the judicial district 

in which the defendant currency was seized. 

8. 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: 

 1. The Court adopts the Stipulation for Consent Judgment of Forfeiture entered into 

by and between the parties. 

 2. Upon entry of this Consent Judgment of Forfeiture, $16,000.00 of the 

Approximately $20,000.00 in U.S. Currency, together with any interest that may have accrued 

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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. 

3. Upon entry of this Consent Judgment of Forfeiture, but no later than 60 days 

thereafter, $4,000.00 of the Approximately $20,000.00 in U.S. Currency shall be returned to 

claimant Malachai Rashad Dupree through his attorney Robert David Malove. 

 4. The 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 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 or forfeiture, as well as to those now known or disclosed. 

Claimants waived the provisions of California Civil Code § 1542. 

 5. No portion of the stipulated settlement, including statements or admissions made 

therein, shall be admissible in any criminal action pursuant to Rules 408 and 410(a)(4) of the 

Federal Rules of Evidence. 

 6. All parties will bear their own costs and attorney’s fees. 

 7. As provided by the Stipulation for Consent Judgment of Forfeiture filed herein, 

the Court enters a 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. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

DATED: March 4, 2016. 

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