United States v. Clark

165 F. Supp. 3d 1215, 2016 WL 361560
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Florida
DecidedFebruary 25, 2016
DocketCASE NO. 13-10034-CR-MARTINEZ(s)(s)
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 165 F. Supp. 3d 1215 (United States v. Clark) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Clark, 165 F. Supp. 3d 1215, 2016 WL 361560 (S.D. Fla. 2016).

Opinion

[1217]*1217 ORDER OF FORFEITURE AND MONEY JUDGMENT

JOSE E. MARTINEZ, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

This matter is before the Court upon the motion of the United States of America for entry of an order of forfeiture and money judgment. Being fully advised in the premises, this Court finds as follows:

1. On December 11, 2015, Defendant Fred Davis Clark, Jr., (“Clark” or “defendant”), was convicted of seven counts of the Second Superseding Indictment (“Indictment”), specifically: three counts of 18 U.S.C. § 1344(2) [Counts 2-4], three counts of 18 U.S.C. § 1014 [Counts 5-7]; and, one count of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(2) [Count 12]. (D.E.468.) Counts 2 through 4 charged defendant with participation in a scheme to defraud and each count pertained to acts executed in furtherance of the scheme.

2. The Indictment placed defendant on notice that, upon defendant’s conviction of the bank fraud and false statement offenses, the United States would pursue forfeiture of “any property constituting or derived from proceeds the defendant obtained directly or indirectly as the result of such offense or a conspiracy to commit such offense” and, that upon conviction of the obstruction offense for which 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(2) formed the underlying violation, the United States would seek forfeiture of “any property, real or personal, which “constitutes or is derived from proceeds” traceable to such offense or a conspiracy to commit such offense (D.E. 351, at 15-16).

3. Four specific properties were identified in the forfeiture allegations of the Indictment:

b. A sum of approximately $1,699,675 transferred on or about April 22, 2013 to a bank account in the name of Dinero Shop, SA at Banco Davivienda ending in x4611, in Roatan, Honduras which sum has been transferred to and frozen by the Honduras Office of Public Ministry;
c. A sum of approximately $452,519.52 contained in a bank account in the name of Dinero Shop, SA at Ban-co Davivienda ending in x4611 in Roa-tan, Honduras, which sum has been transferred to and frozen by the Honduras Office of Public Ministry;
d. A sum of approximately $125,000 wired by Travers, Thorpe, Alberga, Cayman Island Attorneys at the direction of Fred Davis Clark, Jr. to a Scotia Bank account ending in x8056; and
e. The funds, shares and business interest described by Defendant Fred Davis Clark, Jr., during his deposition in Case No. 13-CIV-10011-King, taken on December 6, 2013 at Parrot Tree Plantation, . Roatan Bay Islands, Honduras more fully-described at pages 15, 17, 18 and 21 of the record of said deposition, generally described as $400,000 to $500,000 in funds issued by CMZ (CMZ Group LTD, a Cayman Islands company described in paragraph 9 of the Second Superseding Indictment in this matter, to include affiliates Cash Wiz Holdings, LTD and Island Elements, Cl, LTD) to the benefit of Fred Davis Clark, Jr. and subsequently transferred to or for the benefit of Fred Davis Clark, Jr. to obtain an ownership interest in a tourist medical venture at Parrot Tree Plantation in Roatan, Honduras.

(D.E. 351, at 16.) In addition, the United States sought, “a sum of money equal in value to the proceeds traceable to the offense(s).” (Id.)

[1218]*12184. Before the jury was excused, defendant waived forfeiture presentation to the jury. (D.E.466.)

Forfeiture Is Mandatory For Each Count of Conviction

5. Defendant is subject to mandatory forfeiture for his convictions of bank fraud, making false statements and obstruction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 982(a)(2) and 28 U.S.C. § 2461. Both statutes use the word “shall.” See United States v. Monsanto, 491 U.S. 600, 607, 109 S.Ct. 2657, 105 L.Ed.2d 512 (1989). The applicable statute with respect to defendant’s bank fraud and false statement convictions, 18 U.S.C. § 982(a)(2), provides, “[t]he court, in imposing sentence on a person convicted of a violation of, or a conspiracy to violate — (A) section ... 1014, ... or 1344 of this title, affecting a financial institution ... shall order that the person forfeit to the United States any property constituting or derived from, proceeds the person obtained directly or indirectly as the result of such violation.” Id. (emphasis added).

6. Forfeiture is also mandatory pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2461(c). See United States v. Brummer, 598 F.3d 1248 (11th Cir.2010) (finding that district court was required to direct forfeiture under 28 U.S.C. § 2461(c)). By application of § 2461(c), forfeiture of property is mandated for a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512, since it is a racketeering activity identified in 18 U.S.C. § 1961(1), which is a specified unlawful activity under 18 U.S.C. § 1956(c)(7)(A). Forfeiture is imposed through 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(C) which provides for forfeiture of “any property, real or personal, which constitutes or is derived from proceeds traceable to ... any offense constituting ‘specified unlawful activity’ (as defined in section 1956(c)(7) of this title), or a conspiracy to commit such offense.”

For Counts 2 Through 4, A Forfeiture Money Judgment Shall Issue In The Amount of Proceeds Obtained Through the Fraudulent Scheme

7. For Counts 2 through 4, the Court finds that defendant must forfeit an amount equal in value to the amount of proceeds obtained fraudulently through the scheme. When a scheme is charged, even though only certain substantive counts are proved, the proceeds of the scheme are forfeitable. See United States v. Hasson, 333 F.3d 1264, 1279-1280 (11th Cir.2003) (for forfeiture purposes, fact-finder could use evidence of “extensive scheme to defraud furthered by various mailings [acquitted conduct] and uses of the wires [convicted conduct].” Id. at 1280. As discussed in United States v. Capoccia, 503 F.3d 103

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
165 F. Supp. 3d 1215, 2016 WL 361560, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-clark-flsd-2016.