Court Opinion

ID: 2666923
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-04-04 12:56:29.92431+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:02:45.072718
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
                            FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

                                               )
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA                       )
                                               )
               Plaintiff,                      )
                                               )
       v.                                      )      Civil Action No. 08-1345 (RMC)
                                               )
8 GILCREASE LANE, QUINCY,                      )
FLORIDA 32351, et al.,                         )
                                               )
               Defendants.                     )
                                               )

                                  MEMORANDUM OPINION

               Thomas A. Bowdoin, Jr., renews his motion to vacate an Order approving his release

of claims, see Dkt. # 41, in this civil in rem forfeiture proceeding. Mr. Bowdoin seeks to restore his

right to litigate his claim to the defendant properties, arguing that his prior counsel gave him bad

advice and the Government tricked him into releasing his claims. See Bowdoin’s Mots. to Rescind

Withdrawal of Claims [Dkt. ## 66, 67, and 131]. As Mr. Bowdoin’s own descriptions of events fail

to support these arguments, and there is no other reason to grant reconsideration under Rule 60(b),

the Court will deny the motion.

                                             I. FACTS

               The Government filed this civil forfeiture action on August 6, 2008, asserting that

certain real properties, bank accounts and other things were subject to forfeiture because they were

obtained with proceeds from an illegal Internet Ponzi scheme.1 See Compl. [Dkt. # 1]. On August

1
  According to the Complaint, “Ponzi schemes promote allegedly lucrative business opportunities,
often involving . . . high-return investments. But, in a Ponzi scheme, there is in fact no underlying
profitable business to support the payments promoters say they will make to the
investors/participants. Instead, . . . the promoters use the money obtained from a growing base of
15, 2008, verified claims to the properties were filed by Bowdoin/Harris Enterprises, Inc.; AdSurf

Daily, Inc. (“ASD”); and Mr. Bowdoin. See Dkt. # 6. After meeting with the Government, on the

advice of his counsel, Mr. Bowdoin filed a motion to withdraw his claims, Dkt. # 39, which was

granted by Court Order on January 22, 2009. See Dkt. # 41.

               Mr. Bowdoin now states that his lawyers in the civil forfeiture case urged him to

retain Steven Dobson of Dobson and Smith as his criminal attorney for the anticipated criminal

prosecution. He did so and thereafter Mr. Dobson met in Washington, D.C., on two occasions with

William Cowden, an attorney with the Department of Justice. Further, according to Mr. Bowdoin:

           In December 2008 and January 2009, Dobson and I met with Cowden and
           other government officials in Tallahassee, Florida to discuss matters
           concerning the issues of criminal liability and the civil in rem forfeiture
           proceeding.

           Before meeting with Cowden, Dobson asked that I sign an agreement
           expressing my intent to cooperate with the Department of Justice and
           releasing the assets. I did that. Dobson represented to me that I could
           possibly avoid prison or get a reduced sentence if I agreed to disclose details
           concerning ASD and releasing the assets. I agreed to cooperate and release
           the assets. I also signed a document stating that I would release my claims
           in the above-captioned civil in rem forfeiture proceeding, again thinking
           that necessary for a possible avoidance of a prison term. I did all of this on
           the understanding that by cooperating I could possibly avoid a prison
           sentence. I am 74 years old and have a heart condition. Any measure of
           prison time would constitute a life sentence. Given the possibility of a long
           prison term, I agreed not to exercise my rights in the civil forfeiture
           proceeding, anticipating from representations made by Dobson that this
           could possibly keep me out of prison. Dobson retained my signed
           agreement and provided it to DOJ Counsel before my initial in-person
           meeting.

           During our meeting in Tallahassee, Florida, Cowden requested that I
           dismiss my claims in the above-captioned civil forfeiture proceeding.
           Dobson provided Cowden with my signed agreement. I was led to believe

later investors/participants to pay so-called ‘profits’ to earlier investors.” Compl. [Dkt. # 1] ¶ 9.

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that a grand jury indictment was forthcoming. My attorney represented to
me that Cowden had spoken to a judge, persuaded the judge that I was a
flight risk, and that I would be held without bail following a prompt
indictment. Dobson led me to believe that I would be promptly arrested if
I failed to cooperate with Government counsel.

Dobson stated that unless I cooperated, Cowden was prepared to bring
criminal actions for wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to
commit same. Dobson represented that Cowden would seek the maximum
sentences for each charge, which would be in the range of 20-40 years
imprisonment.

Dobson lead [sic] me to believe that if I cooperated there was a possibility
that I would not be incarcerated or imprisoned.

Based on representations by Dobson, I believed that my cooperation would
still result in a criminal sentence that could possibly not include
imprisonment or incarceration. Dobson said that none of this could be put
in writing. But Dobson had lied to me.

...

On January 13, 2009, my attorneys filed a release of claims to seized
property and consent to forfeiture. On January 22, 2009, the Court entered
its Order granting that motion.

During the course of my two meetings with government counsel, I became
aware contrary to what I was led to believe by my counsel that my
agreement to freely discuss my involvement with ASD still included a
definite imprisonment. . . . [A]fter I had already revealed significant
information against my interest, I came to understand that I faced
incarceration following a criminal action.

Cowden explained that I would be subject to the maximum penalty under
the statute, but that he would inform the judge that I cooperated. I slowly
came to understand what I understood from Dobson not to be the case: that
my agreement to cooperate provided me no benefit in the criminal matter
except the possibility of a reduced sentence if the judge desired which
would still be a life sentence. I came to realize that the pleadings were filed
not in exchange for the government’s relinquishment of seeking a prison
sentence but on no agreement at all. That was against my wishes then and
is against my wishes now. I had been hoodwinked.

                                       -3-
Bowdoin’s Resp. to Order to Show Cause [Dkt. # 131], Ex. 1 (Affidavit of Thomas A. Bowdoin, Jr.)

(“Bowdoin Aff.”) ¶¶ 7-12, 14-16.

               Sometime in February 2009, Mr. Bowdoin appears to have decided he would no

longer cooperate with the government. Starting on February 27, 2009, he began to file, pro se, a

series of motions. See Dkt. ## 47, 48, 49, 50, & 55. One such pleading, titled “Notice of Rescission

and Withdrawal of Release of Claims to Seized Property and Consent to Forfeiture,” see Dkt # 47,

represented Mr. Bowdoin’s effort to notify the Court and Government of his intention to re-assert

his claims and those of his corporate co-claimants in this in rem proceeding. After he retained new

counsel, on May 7, 2009, Mr. Bowdoin moved to withdraw the notice and promised, through

counsel, to file a more substantive argument on or before May 15, 2009. See Dkt. ## 66 & 67. On

July 24, 2009, the Court entered an order to show cause why this matter should not proceed without

further litigation from Mr. Bowdoin. In response, Mr. Bowdoin filed the instant Renewed Motion

to Rescind Release of Claims, which is now ripe for decision. See Dkt. # 131.

                                    II. LEGAL STANDARDS

               Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b) provides for relief from a judgment or order

due to: (1) mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect; (2) newly discovered evidence; (3)

fraud, misrepresentation, or other misconduct by an opposing party; (4) void judgment; (5) satisfied,

released, or discharged judgment; or (6) “any other reason justifying relief from the operation of the

judgment.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b). The party seeking relief from judgment bears the burden of

proof. See Rufo v. Inmates of Suffolk County Jail, 502 U.S. 367, 383-84 (1992); Mazengo v. Mzengi,

542 F. Supp. 2d 96, 100 n.3 (D.D.C. 2008). Critically, the movant must “demonstrate a meritorious

claim or defense.” Lepkowski v. United States Dep’t of Treasury, 804 F.2d 1310, 1314 (D.C. Cir

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1986); accord Norman v. United States, 377 F. Supp. 2d 96, 98 (D.D.C. 2005) (plaintiff’s Rule 60(b)

motion denied where “the Court [was] persuaded that reinstatement would ultimately be futile”),

aff’d, 467 F.3d 773 (D.C. Cir. 2006).

               Rule 60(b)(6) permits the amendment of a judgment for “any other reason justifying

relief from the operation of the judgment.” This catch-all provision gives courts discretion to vacate

or modify judgments when it is “appropriate to accomplish justice,” Klapprott v. U.S., 335 U.S. 601,

614-15 (1949), but it should be applied only in extraordinary circumstances. Kramer v. Gates, 481

F.3d 788, 791 (D.C. Cir. 2007) (citing Ackermann v. United States, 340 U.S. 193, 199 (1950)).

“Rule 60(b)(6) ‘should be only sparingly used’ and may not ‘be employed simply to rescue a litigant

from strategic choices that later turn out to be improvident.’” Kramer, 481 F.3d at 792 (quoting

Good Luck Nursing Home, Inc. v. Harris, 636 F.2d 572, 577 (D.C. Cir. 1980)). Relief under Rule

60(b)(6) “is not available unless the other clauses, (1) through (5), are inapplicable.” Goland v. CIA,

607 F.2d 339, 372-73 (D.C. Cir. 1979).

                                          III. ANALYSIS

               Mr. Bowdoin’s statement that he was “hoodwinked” could be interpreted to mean that

he mistakenly released his claims or that there was some misrepresentation or misconduct by the

Government, i.e., “an opposing party.” See Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b)(1) & (3). Inept advice from

counsel, also alleged by Mr. Bowdoin, might be deemed to be an “other reason that justifies relief.”

Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b)(6). However, apart from counsel’s argument, nothing in Mr. Bowdoin’s own

sworn statement justifies the conclusion that he was mistaken, that the Government engaged in any

misrepresentation or misconduct, or that his attorney provided bad advice. He also fails to present

any meritorious defense.

                                                 -5-
                The Government charges that Mr. Bowdoin operated a Ponzi scheme on the Internet,

whereby he, using ASD as a vehicle, bilked hundreds of people. Presented by affidavit and

testimony outside the crucible of a criminal trial, its evidence appears to be strong. In the face of the

civil in rem proceedings and the expected criminal prosecution, it is no surprise that his criminal

lawyer would recommend a cooperation plea with demonstrated early acceptance of responsibility,

i.e., withdrawal of claims to the seized assets, so that Mr. Bowdoin might earn a motion for a

downward departure under Section 5K1.1 of the United States Sentencing Guidelines and/or 18

U.S.C. § 3553, both of which allow the Court to impose a sentence below the statutory minimum

to reflect a defendant’s “substantial assistance” to a Government investigation. See U.S.S.G. §

5K1.1; 18 U.S.C. § 3553(e). Such an approach from counsel could be seen as the norm when the

Government’s evidence is strong.

                What Mr. Bowdoin hoped to gain from his release of claims/early acceptance of

responsibility and his debriefing with the Government was a promise of no jail time. When that was

not forthcoming from the Assistant United States Attorney, Mr. Bowdoin balked and tried to back

up, as if he had not already released his claims and talked to the Government. He is certainly free

to change his mind and refuse to cooperate with the Government’s investigation of ASD and related

businesses. What he does not present is any reason recognized by Rule 60(b) for the Court to revise

its order releasing his claims. By his own admission:

        •       Dobson represented to me that I could possibly avoid prison or get a reduced
                sentence if I agreed to disclose details concerning ASD and releasing the assets.

        •       I also signed a document stating that I would release my claims in the above-
                captioned civil in rem forfeiture proceeding, again thinking that necessary for a
                possible avoidance of a prison term.

                                                  -6-
       •       I did all of this on the understanding that by cooperating I could possibly avoid a
               prison sentence.

       •       I agreed not to exercise my rights in the civil forfeiture proceeding, anticipating from
               representations made by Dobson that this could possibly keep me out of prison.

       •       Dobson lead [sic] me to believe that if I cooperated there was a possibility that I
               would not be incarcerated or imprisoned.

       •       I believed that my cooperation would still result in a criminal sentence that could
               possibly not include imprisonment or incarceration.

       •       Cowden explained that I would be subject to the maximum penalty under the statute,
               but that he would inform the judge that I cooperated.

       •       I slowly came to understand what I understood from Dobson not to be the case: that
               my agreement to cooperate provided me no benefit in the criminal matter except the
               possibility of a reduced sentence if the judge desired which would still be a life
               sentence.

Bowdoin Aff. ¶¶ 8, 11-12, & 16 (emphasis added).

               Each of these statements indicates that Mr. Bowdoin completely understood what he

was doing: releasing his claims and cooperating to “possibly avoid a prison sentence.” Id. ¶ 8. If

he proceeds to trial and the evidence persuades a unanimous jury beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr.

Bowdoin is guilty as charged, he will face a term of incarceration for sure. Mr. Dobson’s hope was

to avoid such a result by avoiding a trial and persuading the Government to file motions with the

Court that could be used to argue for a sentence that did not include jail time. It is very strange that

Mr. Bowdoin passed that opportunity by, despite clear knowledge that it “could possibly keep me

out of prison.” Id. Perhaps the delay in obtaining an indictment has led Mr. Bowdoin to believe that

he will not be indicted after all.2 The reasons for his decision to cease cooperation and attempt to

2
  Mr. Bowdoin believes the Government “submitted charges before a grand jury on or about May
2009,” Bowdoin Aff. ¶ 22, but as of this date no indictment has been returned against him in a
federal court.

                                                  -7-
withdraw his release of claims are not revealed; what is clear is that Mr. Bowdoin acted totally

voluntarily and with an eye to the possibility of avoiding jail when he executed his release and

promised to cooperate.

                                     IV. CONCLUSION

              There being no basis under Rule 60(b) to grant Mr. Bowdoin’s motion, it will be

denied. A memorializing Order accompanies this Memorandum Opinion.

Date: November 10, 2009                                            /s/
                                                    ROSEMARY M. COLLYER
                                                    United States District Judge

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