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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

SOUTHERN DIVISION

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA * 

 * 

v. * CRIMINAL NO. 15-00092-CG

 * 

CHARLES EZEKEL CUTTS *

aka ZEKE *

PRELIMINARY ORDER OF FORFEITURE

This matter comes before the Court on the Government’s Motion for Preliminary Order 

of Forfeiture (doc. 24). Upon consideration, the Motion is granted as follows:

WHEREAS the Indictment (doc. 1) in the above-entitled action provided the notice 

required by Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32.2 (a), inasmuch as it notified the defendant, 

CHARLES EZEKEL CUTTS, that upon his conviction of one or more of the violations alleged 

therein, including making a false statement in connection with an attempt to acquire a firearm, in

violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(a)(6), and knowingly possessing a firearm

as a prohibited person, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(4); the United 

States would seek forfeiture of certain property, including specifically the 22 firearms 

enumerated below, in accordance with Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(d) and Title 28, 

United States Code, Section 2461(c);

AND WHEREAS the defendant, CHARLES EZEKEL CUTTS, entered a blind plea of 

guilty to Counts One, Two and Three of the Indictment, at which time he expressly 

acknowledged his understanding that one ramification of his plea of guilty was that the 

enumerated firearms in the Indictment might be forfeited to the Government;

AND WHEREAS the Government has established the requisite nexus between the 

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property it seeks to forfeit and the offenses of which the defendant has been convicted, as 

required by Rule 32.2(b)(1)(A), Fed.R.Crim.P., and for the reasons stated, it is hereby

ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED, that pursuant to Title 18, United States 

Code, Section 924(d), Title 28, United States Code, Section 2461(c), and Federal Rule of 

Criminal Procedure 32.2(b), the interest of the defendant, CHARLES EZEKEL CUTTS, in the 

property identified as follows is hereby condemned and forfeited to the United States for

disposition according to law:

1. One Glock, .45 caliber pistol, serial number SHZ331; 

2. One Mossberg 835, 12 gauge shotgun, serial number UM580104; 

3. One Oviedo, Mauser style, .308 caliber rifle, serial number OT-265609;

4. One Walther, PK380, .380 caliber semiautomatic pistol, serial number 

PK065559; 

5. One Smith & Wesson, Model 10, .38 caliber revolver, serial number 26024;

6. One Smith & Wesson, Model 36, .38 caliber revolver, serial number 1J2202; 

7. One Smith &Wesson, unknown model, .38 caliber revolver, serial number 

37345;

8. One Browning, Light 12, 12 gauge shotgun, serial number 42908;

9. One Mossberg (Western Auto), 500 C, 20 gauge shotgun, serial number

J156681;

10. One Remington, 770, .243 caliber, rifle, serial number M71571683;

11. One Browning, A5, 12 gauge, shotgun serial number 74V28206;

12. One Marlin, 336CC, .30-30 rifle, serial number 17073928;

13. One Browning, A5 Light 12, 12 gauge shotgun, serial number 71611;

14. One Remington, 7400 .30-06 rifle, serial number 8500686;

15. One Remington, Nylon, .22 caliber rifle, serial number unknown; 

16. One Marlin, 336 .35 caliber rifle, serial number 26079246;

17. One Remington, 1100, 12 gauge shotgun, serial number N831187V;

18. One Winchester, 140 Ranger, 20 gauge shotgun, serial number N914973;

19. One Remington, 742, .243 caliber rifle serial number B7260587;

20. One Ruger, 10/22 Sporter, .22 caliber rifle, serial number 828-10224;

21. One American Arms CO., Victory, 12 gauge shotgun, serial number 

unknown;

22. One Browning, BAR .30-06 rifle, serial number BAR1M078.

AND WHEREAS, by virtue of defendant’s guilty plea and the nexus between the 

property and the offenses of conviction, the United States is now entitled to, pending possible 

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appeal herein, reduce the said property to its possession and notify any and all potential third 

parties who have or may have an interest in the forfeited property, pursuant to Title 21, United 

States Code, Section 853 and Rule 32.2(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.

NOW THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED:

That the aforementioned property is authorized to be held by the United States Marshals 

Service or any authorized agent involved in this case to retain in their secure custody and control 

and dispose of it in accordance with law.

Following issuance of this Order the Government must publish notice of it, and send 

notice to any person who reasonably appears to be a claimant with standing to contest the 

forfeiture in an ancillary proceeding. Rule 32.2(b)(6)(A) and (D). Further, pursuant to the 

Attorney General’s authority to determine the manner of publication of an Order of Forfeiture 

provided by Title 21, U.S.C., § 853(n)(1), and in accordance with the acceptable means of 

publication described by Rule 32.2(b)(6)(C), as further described in the provisions of 

Supplemental Rule of G(4) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the United States shall 

publish notice of this order on an official government internet site (www.forfeiture.gov) for at 

least 30 consecutive days.

The notice sent and published must describe the forfeited property, state the times under 

the applicable statute when a petition contesting the forfeiture must be filed, and state the name 

and contact information for the government attorney to be served with the petition. Rule 

32.2(b)(6)(B). More specifically, said notice shall state that any person, other than the defendant, 

having or asserting a legal interest in any property ordered forfeited to the United States, may 

within 30 days of the final date of publication of notice or his receipt of direct written notice, 

whichever is earlier, petition the Court for a hearing to adjudicate the validity of his alleged 

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interest in the property. 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)(1). It shall further state that the petition shall be 

signed by the petitioner under penalty of perjury, and shall set forth the nature and extent of the 

petitioner’s right, title or interest in the forfeited property, the time and circumstances of the 

petitioner’s acquisition of the right, title or interest, and any additional facts supporting the 

petitioner’s claim and the relief sought. 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)(2)-(3). 

The petition must be filed with the Clerk of the Court, 113 St. Joseph Street, Mobile, 

Alabama 36602 and a copy served upon Assistant United States Attorney, Gloria A. Bedwell, 63 

South Royal Street, Suite 600, Mobile, Alabama 36602.

After the disposition of any motion filed under Fed. R. Crim. P. 32.2(c)(1)(A) and before 

a hearing on the petition, discovery may be conducted in accordance with the Federal Rules of 

Civil Procedure upon showing that such discovery is necessary or desirable to resolve factual 

issues.

The United States shall have clear title to the property following the Court’s disposition 

of all third-party interests, or, if none, following the expiration of the period provided in Title 21, 

United States Code, Section 853(n)(2) for the filing of third-party petitions. 21 U.S.C. § 

853(n)(7). The Court shall retain jurisdiction to enforce this Order, and to amend it as necessary, 

pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 32.2(e).

The Clerk of the Court shall forward three (3) certified copies of this Order to Assistant 

U.S. Attorney Gloria A. Bedwell, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Alabama.

DONE and ORDERED this 8th day of October, 2015.

s/ WILLIAM H. STEELE 

CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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