UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff,

v. 1:20-cv-23278-MGC

REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 7505 AND 7171 

FOREST LANE, DALLAS, TEXAS 75230 et al.,

Defendant.

________________________________________________/

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff,

v. 1:20-cv-23279-MGC

ALL RIGHT TO AND INTEREST IN PNC CORPORATE 

PLAZA HOLDINGS LLC HELD, CONTROLLED, OR

ACQUIRED, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, BY OPTIMA 

CBD INVESTMENTS LLC AND/OR CBD 500 LLC, et al.,

Defendant.

________________________________________________/

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff,

v. 1:20-cv-25313-MGC

REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 55 PUBLIC SQUARE,

CLEVELAND, OHIO, et al.

Defendant.

________________________________________________/

JOINT STATUS UPDATE

The United States, along with claimants Mordechai Korf, Uriel Laber, Optima 

Ventures LLC, Optima 7171 LLC and Optima 55 Public Square LLC (collectively, “the 

Optima Claimants”); Vadim M. Shulman, Hornbeam Corporation, and Bracha Foundation 

Case 1:20-cv-23278-MGC Document 85 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/10/2021 Page 1 of 4
2

(collectively, “the Shulman Claimants”); and Law Offices of Cleveland (with the Optima 

Claimants and the Shulman Claimants, Claimants), hereby file this joint status update:

1. The above-captioned in rem civil forfeiture actions (the “Actions”) seek the 

forfeiture of real property located at 7505 and 7171 Forest Lane, Dallas, Texas (20-23278, the 

“Texas Action”); all interest in PNC Corporate Plaza Holdings (20-23279, “PNC Plaza”); 

and real property located at 55 Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio (20-25313, the “Ohio Action”) 

(collectively, the “Defendant Assets”). Claimants have filed claims to the Defendant Assets.

2. The United States previously moved to stay the Actions pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 

§ 981(g)(1), because it contends that the continuation of the proceedings will adversely affect 

an ongoing criminal investigation. See 20-23278 ECF 46. The Optima Claimants opposed 

that motion. None of the other Claimants responded to the motion.

3. The Optima Claimants moved to compel arbitration in the Texas Action and 

the Ohio Action and, among other things, requested that those actions be stayed. See 20-

23278 ECF 36, 37; 20-25313 ECF 26, 27. Again, none of the other Claimants responded to 

the motions.

4. At a hearing on May 10, the United States and the Optima Claimants agreed 

that the Texas Action and Ohio Action should be stayed, and so, in its omnibus order of May 

13, 2021, the Court stayed those actions.

1

 DE:75 at ¶ 1. The Court ordered that the United 

States and Claimants jointly provide an update in 120 days. Id.

5. The parties continue to agree that a stay is appropriate, because it preserves 

judicial resources, and for the reasons previously set forth in their motions. As to the Texas 

Action, the parties anticipate that, per the ex parte restraining order (DE:6) and as discussed 

at the hearing on May 10, the United States will soon file a motion for the Court to approve 

an interlocutory sale of the defendant property.

1 The Court allowed the PNC Plaza Action to proceed for the time being, and denied 

the United States’ Motion to Stay as to that action. DE:75 at ¶ 2.

Case 1:20-cv-23278-MGC Document 85 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/10/2021 Page 2 of 4
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Respectfully submitted,

DEBORAH CONNOR, CHIEF

MONEY LAUNDERING & ASSET 

RECOVERY SECTION

/s/ Shai D. Bronshtein

Shai D. Bronshtein (ID No. A5502665)

Rachel E. Goldstein

Trial Attorneys

Criminal Division

United States Department of Justice 

1400 New York Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20005

Telephone: (202) 616-5950

Shai.Bronshtein@usdoj.gov

JUAN ANTONIO GONZALEZ

ACTING UNITED STATES 

ATTORNEY

Adrienne E. Rosen (ID No. A5502297)

Marx P. Calderón (ID No. A5502700)

Assistant United States Attorney

US Attorney’s Office

99 Northeast Fourth Street, 7th Floor

Miami, Florida 33132

Telephone: (305) 961-9338

Adrienne.Rosen@usdoj.gov

Attorneys for Plaintiff United States of America

BLACK SREBNICK

201 South Biscayne Blvd., Suite 1300

Miami, FL 33131

Tel: (305) 371-6421

/s/ Howard Srebnick

Howard Srebnick

Florida Bar No. 919063

Robert T. Dunlap

Florida Bar No. 11950

HSrebnick@RoyBlack.com

RDunlap@RoyBlack.com 

Attorneys for Claimants Korf and the 

Corporate Entities

Scott A. Srebnick, P.A.

201 South Biscayne Boulevard

Suite 1210

Miami, FL 33131

Telephone: (305) 285-9019

Facsimile: (305) 377-9937

Scott@srebnicklaw.com 

Attorney for Claimant Laber

 

Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP

1633 Broadway

New York, New York 10019

(212) 506-1700 

Marc E. Kasowitz 

Mark P. Ressler

Ronald R. Rossi

Sarmad M. Khojasteh

Joshua Paul

Pro Hac Vice Anticipated

MKasowitz@kasowitz.com

MRessler@kasowitz.com

RRossi@kasowitz.com 

SKhojasteh@kasowitz.com 

JPaul@kasowitz.com 

Attorneys for Claimants Korf and the 

Corporate Entities

Case 1:20-cv-23278-MGC Document 85 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/10/2021 Page 3 of 4
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Velvel (Devin) Freedman, Esq.

Colleen Smeryage, Esq.

ROCHE FREEDMAN LLP

200 S. Biscayne Blvd.

Suite 5500 Miami, Florida 33131

vel@rcfllp.com

csmeryage@rcfllp.com

nbermond@rcfllp.com

Attorneys for Claimants Korf, Laber and CBD 

500 LLC

BYRD CAMPBELL, P.A. 

180 Park Avenue North, Suite 2A

Winter Park, Florida 32789

s/Thomas Allison

Tucker H. Byrd 

Florida Bar No. 381632

Thomas C. Allison 

Florida Bar No. 35242 

Telephone: (407) 392-2285

Facsimile: (407) 392-2286

Primary Email: 

TByrd@ByrdCampbell.com

Primary Email: 

TAllision@ByrdCampbell.com

Secondary Email: 

CKittel@ByrdCampbell.com

Attorneys for Shulman Claimants

MANRARA & ASSOCIATES, P.A.

790 E. Broward Blvd., #1802

Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301

/s/ Jonathan D. Carvajal

Jonathan D. Carvajal, Esq.

Telephone: (305) 796-5103

Primary: jd@manraraandassociates.com

Secondary: 

service@manraraandassociates.com

Attorney for Claimant Law Offices of Cleveland

Case 1:20-cv-23278-MGC Document 85 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/10/2021 Page 4 of 4