Case 2:11-cv-02571-SPL Document 56 Filed 05/20/13 Page 1 of 14 1 2 3 4 5 JOHN S. LEONARDO United States Attorney District of Arizona DONALD E. CONRAD Assistant United States Attorney Arizona State Bar No. 5347 Two Renaissance Square 40 North Central Avenue, Suite 1200 Phoenix, Arizona 85004-4408 Telephone: (602) 514-7500 Facsimile: (602) 514-7662 E-mail: [email protected] 6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 8 DISTRICT OF ARIZONA United States of America, 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 v. FIRST AMENDED VERIFIED COMPLAINT FOR FORFEITURE IN REM 1) $16,238.99 Seized from Wells Fargo Bank Account Number XX2758; 2) $189.44 Seized from Wells Fargo Bank Account Number XX0892; 3) $4,811.75 Seized from Wells Fargo Bank Account Number XX1531; 4) $8,006.83 Seized from Wells Fargo Bank Account Number XX5746; 5) $43.46 Seized from Wells Fargo Bank Account Number XX4887; 6) $288.56 Seized from Wells Fargo Bank Account Number XX3579, 7) $119,980.00 Seized from Wells Fargo Safety Deposit Box XX1721; 22 8) $4,842.55 Seized from Wells Fargo Bank Account Number XX7693; 23 9) $2,163.00 in United States Currency; and 24 10) MidFirst Bank Cashier’s check no 1196582 in the amount of $76,635.97, 25 CV 11-02571-PHX-SPL Plaintiff, Defendants. 26 27 28 1 Case 2:11-cv-02571-SPL Document 56 Filed 05/20/13 Page 2 of 14 1 Plaintiff, United States of America, by and through its attorneys, JOHN S. LEONARDO, 2 United States Attorney for the District of Arizona, and Donald E. Conrad, Assistant United 3 States Attorney brings this complaint and alleges as follows in accordance with Supplemental 4 Rule G(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 5 NATURE OF THE ACTION 6 1. This is a verified complaint for forfeiture in rem seeking to forfeit and condemn to 7 the use and benefit of the United States of America the following property: 1 ) $ 1 6 , 2 3 8 . 9 9 8 Seized from Wells Fargo Bank Account Number XX2758; 2) $189.44 Seized from Wells Fargo 9 Bank Account Number XX0892; 3) $4,811.75 Seized from Wells Fargo Bank Account Number 10 XX1531; 4) $8,006.83 Seized from Wells Fargo Bank Account Number XX5746; 5) $43.46 11 Seized from Wells Fargo Bank Account Number XX4887; 6) $288.56 Seized from Wells Fargo 12 Bank Account Number XX3579, 7) $119,980.00 Seized from Wells Fargo Safety Deposit Box 13 XX1721; 8) $4,842.55 Seized from Wells Fargo Bank Account Number XX7693; [and] 9) 14 $2,163.00 in United States currency; and , 10) MidFirst Bank Cashier’s check no 1196582 in the 15 amount of $76,635.97, (cumulatively referred to as “defendant currency”). 16 2. This is a civil action in rem, seeking the forfeiture of [United States] defendant 17 currency pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(6) because [the currency] it represents proceeds of 18 trafficking in controlled substances or was used or intended to be used in exchange for controlled 19 substances or was used or intended to be used to facilitate a violation of Title II of the Controlled 20 Substances Act, 21 U.S.C. §§ 801, et seq. 21 3. This is a civil action in rem, seeking the forfeiture of United States currency pursuant 22 to 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(A) and (C) because the defendant currency constitutes or is derived 23 from proceeds traceable to a violation of, or conspiracy to commit a violation of, 21 U.S.C. § 24 841 and/or § 846, which are offenses constituting “specified unlawful activity” under 18 U.S.C. 25 § 1956(c)(7) and or 1957 or property traceable to such property. 26 27 28 2 Case 2:11-cv-02571-SPL Document 56 Filed 05/20/13 Page 3 of 14 1 4. In addition, this is a civil action in rem, brought to enforce the provision of 31 U.S.C. 2 § 5317(c)(2) for the forfeiture of property involved in a violation of 31 U.S.C.§ 5324(c)(1) and 3 (3) or a conspiracy to commit such a violation, to wit: currency in an amount greater than 4 $10,000 was structured in amounts smaller than $10,000 to avoid the reporting requirements of 5 31 U.S.C. § 5316(b), which was transported into the United States from or through a place 6 outside the United States and no Cash and Monetary Instrument Report (CMIR) was filed 7 disclosing the information required in 31 U.S.C. § 5316(b). 8 5. In addition, this is a civil action in rem, brought to enforce the provision of 31 U.S.C. 9 § 5317(c) for the forfeiture of property involved in a violation of 31 U.S.C.§ 5316(a)(1)(A) or 10 a conspiracy to commit such a violation, to wit: currency in an amount greater than $10,000 at 11 one time was transported from a place in the United States to or through a place outside the 12 United States and no Cash and Monetary Instrument Report (CMIR) was filed disclosing the 13 information required in 31 U.S.C. §5316(b). 14 6. In addition, this is a civil action in rem, brought to enforce the provision of 31 U.S.C. 15 § 5317(c)(2) for the forfeiture of funds involved in structuring activities in violation of 31 16 U.S.C. § 5324, in order to avoid the requirement to file a Currency Transaction Report pursuant 17 to 31 U.S.C. § 5313, or any conspiracy to commit any such violation, and any property traceable 18 to any such violation or conspiracy. 19 20 THE DEFENDANTS IN REM 7. The defendants consist of the following property: 21 1) $16,238.99 Seized from Wells Fargo Bank Account Number XX2758; 22 2) $189.44 Seized from Wells Fargo Bank Account Number XX0892; 23 3) $4,811.75 Seized from Wells Fargo Bank Account Number XX1531; 24 4) $8,006.83 Seized from Wells Fargo Bank Account Number XX5746; 25 5) $43.46 Seized from Wells Fargo Bank Account Number XX4887; 26 6) $288.56 Seized from Wells Fargo Bank Account Number XX3579; 27 28 3 Case 2:11-cv-02571-SPL Document 56 Filed 05/20/13 Page 4 of 14 1 7) $119,980.00 Seized from Wells Fargo Safety Deposit Box XX1721; 2 8) $4,842.55 Seized from Wells Fargo Bank Account Number XX7693; and 3 9) $2,163.00 in United States currency, 4 all seized on June 28, 2011, by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and 10) MidFirst Bank Cashier’s check no 1196582 in the amount of $76,635.97, 5 6 8. The [defendants (collectively referred to as, “defendant currency” are] defendant 7 currency is presently in the custody of the United States Marshals Service in Phoenix, Arizona. 8 JURISDICTION AND VENUE 9 9. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over an action commenced by the United 10 States under 28 U.S.C. § 1345, and over an action for forfeiture under 28 U.S.C. § 1355(a). This 11 Court also has jurisdiction over this particular action under 21 U.S.C. § 881(a)(6). 12 10. This Court has in rem jurisdiction over the defendant property pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 13 § 1355(b)(1)(A) because acts or omissions giving rise to the forfeiture occurred in this district, 14 and 28 U.S.C. § 1355(b)(1)(B), incorporating 28 U.S.C. § 1395, because the action accrued in 15 this district. 16 11. Upon the filing of this complaint, the plaintiff requests that the Clerk issue an arrest 17 warrant in rem pursuant to Supplemental Rule G(3)(b), which the plaintiff will execute upon the 18 defendant property pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1355(d) and Supplemental Rule G(3)(c). 19 12. Venue is proper in this district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1355(b)(1)(A) because acts 20 or omissions giving rise to the forfeiture occurred in this district, and 28 U.S.C. § 1395, because 21 the action accrued in this district and the property is located in this district. 22 13. The defendant currency is now, and during the pendency of this action, will be in the 23 jurisdiction of this Court and is located in the District of Arizona. 24 FACTS 25 14. Beginning in February 2011, the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), 26 Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and other law enforcement agencies have conducted an 27 28 4 Case 2:11-cv-02571-SPL Document 56 Filed 05/20/13 Page 5 of 14 1 investigation of the drug trafficking and money laundering activities of a large scale 2 methamphetamine and cocaine drug trafficking organization based in the Republic of Mexico 3 and Arizona. 4 15. The investigation identified Efrain Gustavo Lopez -Gutierrez (“CHOLO”) and his 5 associates, Irvin Manuel Coronel (“GORDO”) and Michael Navarette-Lopez (“CUATE”) as 6 significant members involved in the Phoenix-based drug trafficking organization. 7 16. From May 3, 2011 - May 18, 2011, law enforcement intercepted wire 8 communications over a cellular telephone utilized by Efrain Gustavo Lopez -Gutierrez 9 (hereafter, “CHOLO”). 10 17. During the monitoring period, numerous telephone conversations were intercepted 11 between Wilfrido Aldana-Cantu (“ARQUI”), an unidentified person known only as “UM2783", 12 CHOLO, GORDO, CUATE, and other drug-trafficking associates during which they discussed 13 what appeared to be drug trafficking activity. 14 May 10, 2011 15 18. On May 10, 2011, law enforcement intercepted a series of conversations between 16 ARQUI, CHOLO, UM2783, GORDO and CUATE in which they discussed the apparent 17 delivery of $320,000 in drug proceeds to ARQUI. 18 19. Investigation revealed that on May 10, 2011CHOLO instructed CUATE to retrieve 19 $320,000 of drug proceeds from a black Honda Accord parked in the garage area of 4719 N. 20 Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona. CHOLO and UM2783 then coordinated the delivery of $320,000 21 in drug proceeds to ARQUI. 22 20. Later that same day, ARQUI deposited $9,000 into his personal checking account 23 number XX7693 and $9,200 in joint saving account number XX1060 at the Wells Fargo 24 Branch located at 23405 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, Arizona. 25 26 27 28 5 Case 2:11-cv-02571-SPL Document 56 Filed 05/20/13 Page 6 of 14 1 21. On May 11, 2011, ARQUI deposited a total of $80,800 in ten Wells Fargo bank 2 accounts, at various branches in amounts that never exceeded $10,000. All the accounts are 3 associated with ARQUI or a family member. 4 5 6 22. On May ll, 2011, ARQUI also opened and accessed safety deposit box XX721 at the Wells Fargo branch located at 13015 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix, Arizona. 23. On May 12, 2011, the funds deposited in accounts XX1060, XX7319, XX4014 7 were transferred online to ARQUI’s personal checking account. The funds deposited to account 8 XX0892 were transferred to account XX3579. 9 24. Agents identified eleven Wells Fargo bank accounts and the safety deposit box 10 mentioned above that pertain to ARQUI, 11 (“OSCAR”), and another relative, Jose Pedro Cardenas (“JOSE”). 12 25. his father-in-law Oscar Verdugo-Cardenas ARQUI has one sole checking account numbered XX7693; a joint savings 13 account with his wife, Claudia Rosalva Cardenas Marquez (Claudia) numbered XX1060; a joint 14 checking account with Claudia numbered XX7160; a joint checking account with Maria Aurora 15 Cantu de Aldana (Maria), believed to be his mother, numbered XX7319; and a joint savings 16 account with Maria numbered XX4014. 17 26. Bank records indicate Claudia and Maria are homemakers and have no reported 18 income. ARQUI is a self-employed architect and lists his business phone number as a Mexican 19 phone number. 20 27. JOSE has control over four accounts at Wells Fargo Bank. One money market 21 savings account numbered XX4887; one checking account numbered XX3579; and two 22 business checking accounts in the name of Sonmex Fund LLC numbered XX0892 and XX2758. 23 28. OSCAR has control of two joint accounts with his wife Rosalva Cardenas 24 (Rosalva): one joint checking account numbered XX1531 and one joint savings account 25 numbered XX5746. 26 27 28 6 Case 2:11-cv-02571-SPL Document 56 Filed 05/20/13 Page 7 of 14 1 29. Bank records indicate OSCAR is an attorney with a gross income of $3,000 per 2 month. All but one of the phone numbers listed are Mexican phone numbers. No Social 3 Security number is listed. 4 30. Investigation revealed that from October 12, 2010 to March 30, 2011, twenty cash 5 deposits totaling $128,050 were made among four accounts on seven occasions. The deposits 6 were made in amounts never exceeding $10,000 dollars and were subsequently transferred to 7 ARQUI’s personal checking account. 8 9 31. On May 11, 2011, ARQUI wrote a check to OSCAR for $56,000 from his personal checking account. 10 32. On May 13, 2011, JOSE wrote a check to OSCAR for $36,500 from Account 11 number XX3579. 12 33. On May 13, 2011, OSCAR deposited both checks to Account number XX1531 13 to fund the cashier’s check used to purchase the residence located at 6505 E. Betty Elyse Lane, 14 Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, Arizona 85254. 15 34. Through investigation and surveillance law enforcement determined that ARQUI, 16 OSCAR and JOSE deposited and stored drug proceeds through their various Wells Fargo 17 accounts and safe deposit box and converted those proceeds into real property and transferred 18 a portion of the proceeds into Mexico in an attempt to launder the illicit funds. 19 35. On May 24, 2011 at 9:54 a.m. two individuals made deposits at two different 20 tellers at the Wells Fargo Branch located at 250 E 4th St., Calexico, California. The deposits 21 were made to ARQUI’s personal checking account and account number XX7319 in the amount 22 of $9,000 each. 23 36. On the same day, ARQUI crossed northbound into the United States from Mexico 24 at the Nogales West Port of Entry at 12:06 p.m. Law Enforcement databases confirmed that 25 ARQUI did not declare the transportation of U.S. currency in excess of $10,000 dollars. 26 27 28 7 Case 2:11-cv-02571-SPL Document 56 Filed 05/20/13 Page 8 of 14 37. 1 Later that day, at the same Calexico, California Wells Fargo branch, two 2 additional deposits of $9,900 each were made to ARQUI’s personal checking account and 3 account number XX7160. The cash deposits made to Accounts XX7160 and XX7319 were 4 later transferred to ARQUI’s personal checking account. 38. 5 On May 25, 2011, JOSE and OSCAR crossed northbound into the United States 6 from Mexico at the Nogales Port of Entry in the early evening. Law Enforcement databases 7 confirmed that neither JOSE nor OSCAR declared the transportation of U.S. currency in excess 8 of $10,000 dollars. 39. 9 On May 26, 2011, ARQUI made three deposits under $10,000 each, to his 10 personal checking account, account number XX7160 and account number XX7319 totaling 11 $27,050 ($8,550, $9,500, & $9,000) at the Wells Fargo branch located at 13015 N Tatum Blvd, 12 Phoenix, Arizona. ARQUI also accessed his safe deposit box located at the same branch during 13 this same time period. 40. 14 On May 26, 2011, OSCAR purchased Cashier’s Check #0631302601 in the 15 amount of $105,595.16 made payable to First American Title for the remaining down payment 16 for the purchase of the residence located at 6505 E. Betty Elyse Lane, Scottsdale, Arizona 17 85254. 18 41. Prior to the purchase of the Cashier’s Check, OSCAR transferred funds to and 19 from Account number XX5746 netting a remaining co-mingled balance in ARQUI’s personal 20 checking account. 21 42. 22 23 On May 26, 2011, ARQUI also wrote a $25,000 check made payable to Banco Monex SA which was later endorsed in Mexico. 43. On June 3, 2011, OSCAR and ARQUI crossed northbound into the United States 24 from Mexico at the Nogales Port of Entry in the early evening. Law Enforcement databases 25 confirmed that neither JOSE nor OSCAR declared the transportation of U.S. currency in excess 26 of $10,000 dollars. 27 28 8 Case 2:11-cv-02571-SPL Document 56 Filed 05/20/13 Page 9 of 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 44. On June 3, 2011, the United States District Court issued an order authorizing the interception of wire communication over another cellular telephone utilized by CHOLO. 45. Investigation revealed that on June 4, 2011, ARQUI received $56,000 of drug proceeds from CHOLO and CUATE. 46. On the same day investigation revealed ARQUI accessed his safety deposit box located at 13015 N Tatum Blvd, Phoenix, Arizona. 47. On June 10, 2011, ARQUI crossed northbound into the United States from 8 Mexico at the Nogales Port of Entry. Law Enforcement databases confirmed that ARQUI did 9 not declare the transportation of U.S. currency in excess of $10,000 dollars. 10 48. On June 11, 2011, ARQUI made three deposits in account numbers XX7693, 11 XX7160 and XX7319 $15,000 ($7,000, $3,000, & $5,000) at the Wells Fargo branch located 12 at 14595 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, Arizona. 13 49. To summarize the recent Wells Fargo banking activity, from May 10, 2011 14 through June 11, 2011, $184,415 was deposited and transferred between eleven account 15 associated with ARQUI or one of his family members. The funds ultimately were disposed of 16 through the purchase of Cashier’s Checks for the down payment of real property; transfers to 17 Mexico; payment for services; travel, spending, etc. 18 50. Between May 10, 2011 and June 4, 2011 ARQUI received $376,000 in cash from 19 CHOLO. 20 investigation. Only $184,415 was deposited into the eleven various accounts. 21 51. The source of the money is from the drug trafficking organization under ARQUI accessed the Wells Fargo Safe deposit box three times. The first time 22 was May 10, 2011, the day he received $320,000, the second occasion was May 26, 2011, and 23 the third time was the same day he received $56,000, June 4, 2011. 24 Surveillance and Traffic Stop of ARQUI 25 26 27 28 9 Case 2:11-cv-02571-SPL Document 56 Filed 05/20/13 Page 10 of 14 1 52. On May 26, 2011, at approximately 6:40 p.m., Officers of the Arizona 2 Department of Public Safety stopped ARQUI, driving a white Ford pickup bearing Sonora 3 Mexico license plate UX-62-563, for excessive window tint. 4 5 53. ARQUI stated he was a businessman in the construction and real estate business in San Carlos, Sonora. 6 54. The passenger in the vehicle was identified as Dulce Gallegos-Gaxiola. 7 55. ARQUI stated he attended the University of Arizona in Tucson and had lived in 8 the US in the past. 9 56. DPS Officers obtained written consent to search the vehicle from ARQUI. 10 57. A search of the vehicle by DPS and U.S. Customs revealed no contraband. 11 58. ARQUI stated he had around $3,000 in U.S. currency which he showed the 12 officers. Gallegos had the currency in a black bag with the rest of the luggage in the back seat 13 of the truck. DPS Officers observed the currency which consisted mostly of $100 and $20 14 dominations with rubber bands around them. 15 16 17 18 19 59. During the search, one of the officers overheard ARQUI tell Gallegos “they don’t know our tricks” in Spanish. 60. On June 4, 2011, law enforcement conducted surveilleance of ARQUI while he was at a residence located at 6505 E. Betty Elyse Lane, Scottsdale, Arizona. 61. Agents observed three vehicles with Sonora, Mexico registrations. A White Ford 20 Expedition bearing Sonora Mexico registration XXX2524 was included in the vehicles 21 observed at the residence. This vehicle is registered to Claudia Cardenas, ARQUIs wife. This 22 is also the same vehicle in which ARQUI traveled northbound across the U.S.-Mexico border 23 that same morning. 24 62. According to the Maricopa County Recorder, Oscar Verdugo Cardenas (ARQUI’s 25 father-in-law) purchased the residence located at 6505 Betty Elyse Lane, Scottsdale. The 26 purchase price of the property was approximately $370,000 and the down payment was 27 28 10 Case 2:11-cv-02571-SPL Document 56 Filed 05/20/13 Page 11 of 14 1 2 approximately $111,000. 63. The down payment consisted of a personal check written by Oscar Verdugo 3 Cardenas for $5,000 on March 31, 2011 from his personal account at Wells Fargo numbered 4 XX1531 and a Cashier’s Check purchased from Wells Fargo on May 26, 2011 in the amount 5 of $105,595.16 from account number XX5746. 6 Income / Source of Funds 7 64. A review of bank records indicate that ARQUI is an architect in Mexico. 8 65. ARQUI utilizes Social Security number XXX-XX-2349, but is not a United 9 10 11 States Citizen. Arizona Department of Economic Security records were queried and no records of wages were located. 66. JOSE utilizes Social Security number XXX-XX-1435, but is not a United States 12 Citizen. Arizona Department of Economic Security records were queried and no records of 13 wages were located. 14 15 16 17 18 19 67. According to bank records OSCAR is an attorney with gross monthly income of $3,000. OSCAR does not have a Social Security Number and is not a United States Citizen. 68. According to Wells Fargo records OSCAR’s business phone number is a Mexican phone number. 69. Agents have not identified any legitimate sources of income that would generate large amounts of United States currency in the United States for ARQUI, JOSE, or OSCAR. INDICTMENT 20 21 70. On September 6, 2011, a Federal Grand Jury returned a Second Superceding 22 indictment charging Wilfrido Aldana-Cantu, aka ARQUI, Oscar Verdugo-Cardenas, aka 23 OSCAR, Jose Pedro Cardenas, aka JOSE, with one count of Conspiracy to Commit Promotional 24 Money Laundering and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Concealment of Money Laundering 25 in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h). 26 27 28 11 Case 2:11-cv-02571-SPL Document 56 Filed 05/20/13 Page 12 of 14 1 Verified Claims 2 71. On September 29, 2011, JOSE Pedro Cardenas submitted a seized asset claim to the 3 IRS claiming ownership of Wells Fargo bank account number XX2758 and Wells Fargo Bank 4 Account Number XX0892,held in the name of Sonmex Fund, LLC. 5 72. On September 29, 2011, Rosalva Cardenas submitted a seized asset claim to the IRS 6 claiming ownership of Wells Fargo bank account number XX1531 and Wells Fargo Bank 7 Account Number XX5746,held in the name of Oscar V. Cardenas and Rosalva Cardenas. 8 73. On September 29, 2011, OSCAR Verdugo Cardenas submitted a seized asset claim 9 to the IRS claiming ownership of Wells Fargo bank account number XX1531 and Wells Fargo 10 Bank Account Number XX5746, held in the name of Oscar V. Cardenas and Rosalva Cardenas. 11 74. On September 29, 2011, JOSE Pedro Cardenas submitted a seized asset claim to 12 the IRS claiming ownership of Wells Fargo bank account number XX4487 and Wells Fargo 13 Bank Account Number XX3579, held in the name of Jose P. Cardenas. 14 75. On September 26, 2011, Wilfrido Aldana “ARQUI” submitted a seized asset claim 15 to the IRS claiming ownership of Wells Fargo bank accounts XX7693, XX1060, XX7160, 16 XX7319, XX4014, XX721 and United States currency in the amount of $2,163.00. 17 FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF 18 76. Based upon the aforementioned facts and circumstances, the defendant currency 19 represents proceeds of trafficking in controlled substances or was used or intended to be used 20 in exchange for controlled substances or were used or intended to be used to facilitate a 21 violation of Title II of the Controlled Substance Act, 21 U.S.C. § 801, et seq. and are, therefore, 22 subject to forfeiture to the United States pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 881 (a)(6). 23 SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF 24 77. Based upon the aforementioned facts and circumstances, the defendant currency 25 represents proceeds that has been involved in a transaction or attempted transaction in violation 26 of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956 or 1957 or a conspiracy to commit such a violation and are, therefore, 27 28 12 Case 2:11-cv-02571-SPL Document 56 Filed 05/20/13 Page 13 of 14 1 subject to forfeiture pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(A). THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF 2 3 78. Based upon the aforementioned facts and circumstances, the defendant currency 4 constitutes proceeds traceable to a violation of, or conspiracy to commit a violation of 21 U.S.C. 5 §§ 841 and/or 846, which are offenses constituting “specified unlawful activity” under 18 6 U.S.C. § 1956 (c)(7) or 1957, or property traceable to such property and is, therefore, subject 7 to forfeiture pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(C). FOURTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF 8 9 79. Based upon the aforementioned facts and circumstances, the above described 10 defendants are property within the jurisdiction of the United States which is subject to forfeiture 11 pursuant to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(A) as currency involved in a violation of 12 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(2)(B)(ii) or a conspiracy to commit such a violation, to wit: currency in 13 an amount greater than $10,000 at one time was received into the United States from or through 14 a place outside the United States to avoid with the intent to evade the currency reporting 15 requirement of 31 U.S.C. § 5316. FIFTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF 16 17 80. Based upon the aforementioned facts and circumstances, the above described 18 defendants are subject to forfeiture pursuant to 31 U.S.C. § 5317(c)(2) for the forfeiture of 19 funds involved in structuring activities in an effort to avoid the requirement to file a Currency 20 Transaction Report pursuant to 31 U.S.C. § 5313, or any conspiracy to commit any such 21 violation, and any property traceable to any such violation or conspiracy in violation of 31 22 U.S.C. § 5324. 23 24 25 26 27 28 13 Case 2:11-cv-02571-SPL Document 56 Filed 05/20/13 Page 14 of 14 1 WHEREFORE, the United States of America prays that process of warrant in rem issue 2 for the arrest of the defendants; that due notice be given to all parties to appear and show cause 3 why the forfeiture should not be decreed; that judgment be entered declaring the defendant be 4 forfeited to the United States of America for disposition according to law; and that the United 5 States of America be granted such other relief as this Court may deem just and proper, together 6 with the costs and disbursements of this action. 7 DATED this 20th day of May, 2013. 8 JOHN S. LEONARDO United States Attorney District of Arizona 9 10 11 S/Donald E. Conrad DONALD E. CONRAD Assistant United States Attorney 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 I hereby certify that on May 20, 2013, I filed the foregoing with the Clerk’s Office using the ECF system, which electronically transmitted a Notice of Filing to the following (registered or non-CM/ECF) CM/ECF users: Sean K. McElenney [email protected] 19 20 21 by: Regina M. Spurlock _ 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 14
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