United States v. Christie

249 F. Supp. 3d 739, 2017 WL 1293570, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 53832
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedApril 7, 2017
Docket08 Cr. 1244
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 249 F. Supp. 3d 739 (United States v. Christie) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Christie, 249 F. Supp. 3d 739, 2017 WL 1293570, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 53832 (S.D.N.Y. 2017).

Opinion

OPINION

Sweet, D.J.

The United States of America (the “Government”) has moved pursuant to Rule 32.2(e) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(p), to Substitute Assets to include certain property of David Christie, a/k/a “Big Man,” (“Christie” or the “Defendant”) as substitute assets to be applied towards the forfeiture money judgment that was entered against Christie in the above-captioned case on or about January 19, 2011. Based on the conclusions set forth below, the motion is granted in part and denied in part.

Prior Proceedings

On or about May 20, 2009, Christie, among others, was charged in a two-count Superseding Indictment, SI 08 Cr. 1244 (the “Indictment”), with conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute, a controlled substance, to wit, (1) five kilograms and more of mixtures and substances containing a detectable amount of cocaine and (2) 100 kilograms and more of mixtures and substances containing a detectable amount of marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 812, 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), 841(b)(1)(B), and 846 (Count One) and conspiring to import into the United States from a place outside thereof, a controlled substance, to wit, (1) five kilograms and more of mixtures and substances containing a detectable amount of cocaine from Jamaica, and (2) 100 kilograms and more of mixtures and substances containing a detectable amount of marijuana from Jamaica, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 812, 952, 960(b)(1)(B), 960(b)(2)(G), and 963 (Count Two).

The Indictment included a forfeiture allegation seeking, pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853, any and all property constituting or derived from any proceeds obtained directly or indirectly as a result of the offenses alleged in Counts One and Two of the Indictment and any and all property used or intended to be used in any manner or part to commit and to facilitate the commission of the offenses alleged in Counts One and Two Indictment. On February 1, 2010, a jury in the Southern District of New York found the defendant guilty of the offenses charged in the Indictment. On January 20, 2011, the Defendant was sentenced and ordered to forfeit $3,150,000 in United States currency representing the proceeds obtained as a result of the commission of the offenses charged in Counts One and Two of the Indictment. On or about January 19, 2011, the Court entered an Order of Forfeiture (the “Order of Forfeiture”) imposing a $3,150,000.00 money judgment (the “Money Judgment”), which remains unpaid.

Special Agent Ronald J. Hansen of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Department of Homeland Security (“ICE/DHS”) (“Hansen”), has submitted an affidavit stating that he has not been able to locate, obtain or collect assets traceable to the proceeds of the Defendant’s offenses to satisfy the outstanding Money Judgement. However, the United States has located the following assets of the Defendant located in Jamaica:

[742]*742a. The real property, improvements, and appurtenances known and described as Lot 166, located in Catherine Mount, Montego Bay, St. James, Volume/Folio: 1124/847;1
b. The real property, improvements, and appurtenances known and described as Lot 450, Section B & D Westgate Hills, Phase 2, St. James Volume/Folio: 1307/202 (“Lot 450”) was transferred to Christie for approximately $588,000;
c. The real property, improvements, and appurtenances known and described as Lot 420, located in Hibiscus Drive, Torado Heights, Iron-shore, St. James, Volume/Folio: 1060/129 (“Lot 420”) was transferred to Christie for approximately $6,400,000; and
d. The real property, improvements, and appurtenances known and described as Lot 1080, located in Iron-shore, Taylor Road, Little River, Volume/Folio: 1270/82 (“Lot 1080”) was transferred to Christie for approximately $2,700,000;

(a-d collectively, the “Substitute Assets”).

The Government is now seeking to forfeit the defendant’s interest in the Substitute Assets and to have it, once forfeited, applied as a payment towards the Defendant’s outstanding Money Judgment.

The motion of the Government was heard and marked fully submitted on December 1, 2016.

The Applicable Standard

Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(p) provides that, if “as a result of any act or omission of the defendant” any property

(A) cannot be located upon the exercise of due diligence;
(B) has been transferred or sold to, or deposited with, a third party;
(C) has been placed beyond the jurisdiction of the court;
(D) has been substantially diminished in value; or
(E) has been commingled with other property which cannot be divided without difficulty

the “court shall order the forfeiture of any other property of the defendant, up to the value of any property” so transferred or moved by the defendant.

Rule 32.2(e)(1) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure further provides that

On the government’s motion, the court may at any time enter an order of forfeiture or amend an existing order of forfeiture to include property that:
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(B) is substitute property that qualifies for forfeiture under an applicable statute. Fed. R. Crim. P. 32.2(e)(1).

The court must order the forfeiture of substitute assets to satisfy a money judgment where, as a result of the Defendant’s actions or omissions, the Government is unable to locate or obtain the specific proceeds of the defendant’s offenses. See United States v. Alamoudi, 452 F.3d 310, 314 (4th Cir. 2006) (“Section 853(p) is not discretionary.... [w]hen the Government cannot reach the property initially subject to forfeiture, federal law requires a court to substitute assets for the unavailable tainted property”).

Persons who claim an interest in the Substitute Assets will have an opportunity to challenge the Government’s entitlement [743]*743to the Substitute Assets in the ancillary hearing phase of these proceedings. See Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(n) and Fed. R. Crim. P. 32.2(c) and (c)(2)(B). Under Section 853(n) and Rule 32.2(e)(2), the Government must provide notice of its intent to dispose of the property to known interested parties. Persons alleging an interest in the forfeited property then have 30 days, from the date of last publication or actual notice, within which to petition this Court for a hearing to determine the validity of them claims. Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(n)(2).

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Bluebook (online)
249 F. Supp. 3d 739, 2017 WL 1293570, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 53832, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-christie-nysd-2017.