Previous Story
US govt completes posting of notice of forfeiture action vs Dynasty’s $2.5M
The U.S. government has completed the posting of a notice of forfeiture action pertaining to the $2.5 million that the owner of Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino has agreed to pay as part of the $3.03 million settlement of a criminal case.
Assistant U.S. attorney Russell H. Lorfing informed the U.S. District Court for the NMI yesterday that the notice of forfeiture action was posted on an official U.S. government Internet site (www.forfeiture.gov) for at least 30 consecutive days, beginning Sept. 18, 2015.
Lorfing said the publication of the notice is required by the Supplemental Rules for Admiralty or Maritime Claims and Asset Forfeiture Actions.
The notice stated that any person claiming a legal interest in the $2.5 million must file a verified claim with the court within 60 days from the first day of the Sept. 18, 2015, publication.
Last Aug. 21, the U.S. government filed a complaint for civil forfeiture that seeks the forfeiture of Tinian Dynasty’s $2.5 million.
Hong Kong Entertainment (Overseas) Investments Ltd., owner of Tinian Dynasty, gave the $2.5 million to the U.S. government in the form of a check last July 23 pursuant to their non-prosecution deal.
The new owners of Hong Kong Entertainment and the U.S. government have agreed not to prosecute the criminal case against HKE in exchange for HKE’s forfeiture of $3.03 million.
Last July, U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona dismissed the criminal charges against HKE, based on the U.S. government’s request.
In the forfeiture complaint, the prosecutors asked the court to order all persons having an interest in the funds to appear in court and explain why the forfeiture should not be decreed.
The parties entered into a non-prosecution agreement that requires Tinian Dynasty to forfeit $3,036,969.12.
Pursuant to the non-prosecution deal, HKE made a payment of $2.5 million to the U.S. government.
The U.S. government filed in November last year 158 criminal charges against HKE.
The charges are one count of conspiracy to cause a financial institution to fail to file a currency transaction report or CTR, 155 counts of failure to file a CTR, one count of failure to file a suspicious activity report, and one count of failure to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program. The indictment also has a notice of forfeiture.
