U.S. Marshals To Sell First of Rita Crundwell Assets: Luxury Motor Home

 Washington – The U.S. Marshals Service is selling the first of Rita Crundwell’s assets, a luxury motor home, via a sealed bid sale. Crundwell, 59, has been federally charged with wire fraud in U.S. District Court in Northern Illinois.

The 2009 Liberty Coach Motor Home has a minimum bid of $1 million. Bids will be accepted until 2 p.m. CDT August 1. Public viewings will be available by appointment only on July 23 and July 27 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. CDT.

Crundwell, the former comptroller of Dixon, Ill., has been indicted for allegedly fraudulently obtaining more than $53 million from the city since 1990 and using the proceeds to finance her horse breeding business and lavish lifestyle.

Should the government prevail in its civil and criminal actions against Crundwell, net proceeds from the sale of the defendant’s forfeited assets will be applied toward restitution to the city of Dixon.

Note to media: Media access will be granted by appointment only during the public viewing dates and times: July 23 and July 27 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. CDT. Call (414) 297-1144/4486 to schedule an appointment.

For more information, terms and conditions on the motor home sale, go to www.usmarshals.gov/assets/2012/motorhome.html

For more information on the federal case, go to:

http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/pr/rockford/2012/pr0501_01.pdf

http://www.usmarshals.gov/assets/2012/protective_order.pdf

The U.S. Marshals Service is responsible for managing and selling seized and forfeited properties acquired by federal criminals through illegal activities. Proceeds generated from asset sales are used to compensate victims, supplement funding for law enforcement initiatives and support community programs. As part of the Department of Justice’s Asset Forfeiture Program, the Marshals currently manage more than 19,000 assets with a value of $4.4 billion.

Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov.

U.S. Marshals Selling Works of Art by Chagall, Matisse, Picasso, Toulouse-Lautrec, and other Old Masters

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Marshals Service is conducting online auctions to sell 245 works of art by Chagall, Matisse, Picasso, Toulouse-Lautrec and other old masters as well as pieces by more recent famous artists. The items are up for auction at www.txauction.com until July 2.

The pieces of art were seized from several federal court cases and are now forfeited to the government. Three of the cases involved Marc Dreier out of the Southern District of New York, Justin French out of the Eastern District of Virginia, and Shawn Merriman out of the District of Colorado. Proceeds generated from the auctions will be used to compensate the victims of the cases.

Dreier, 62, of New York was convicted in 2009 for fraud and money laundering $400 million and is serving time in a Minnesota federal prison with a release date scheduled in 2026. French, 41, of Richmond, Va., was convicted in 2011 for stealing millions from federal and state tax credit programs intended to rehabilitate historic buildings. He is incarcerated at a federal prison in West Virginia, with a scheduled release date in 2025. Merriman, 49, of Aurora, Colo., was convicted in 2010 for a mail fraud Ponzi scheme that defrauded 67 investors of millions of dollars. He is serving time in a federal prison in South Dakota with a scheduled release date in 2020.

For more information on the auctions, go to www.txauction.com

For more information on the criminal cases, go to:

Dreier: http://1.usa.gov/MP4sYt 

French: http://1.usa.gov/Lm6yVq 

Merriman: http://1.usa.gov/Lo7d6M 

The U.S. Marshals Service is responsible for managing and selling seized and forfeited properties acquired by federal criminals through illegal activities. Proceeds generated from asset sales are used to compensate victims, supplement funding for law enforcement initiatives and support community programs. As part of the Department of Justice’s Asset Forfeiture Program, the Marshals currently manage more than 19,000 assets with a value of $4.4 billion.

Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov.

U.S. Marshal Auction Raises $110,450 Dollars for Victims and Law Enforcement Efforts

Albuquerque, NM - On May 31, 2012 the United States Marshals Service in Albuquerque, New Mexico auctioned off 20 government surplus and seized vehicles. The vehicles were seized by local and federal agencies and the proceeds will help support law enforcement activities in the Albuquerque area.

98 private citizens registered for the auction and a total of $110,450 dollars was raised. The highlight of the auction was a 2004 Kenworth Construct W900 Tractor. The Tractor sold for 27,200 dollars.

Proceeds from U.S. Marshals’ auctions are used to compensate victims of crime and fund law enforcement initiatives. In addition, the funds are often shared with state and local law enforcement agencies that participated in the investigations leading to the forfeiture of the assets. “This important program enhances law enforcement cooperation between state, local and federal agencies, as well as strips criminals of their ill-gotten gains,” said New Mexico’s U.S. Marshal, Conrad Candelaria. The items auctioned once belonged to individuals and companies involved in criminal activity. A court of law has ordered these particular assets to be forfeited as ill-gotten gains.

Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov.

U.S. Marshals to Auction Notable 43.51 Carat Yellow Diamond that Belonged to Convicted Money Launderer Paul Monea

World-Renowned, Internally Flawless Yellow Diamond to be Auctioned Online

Cleveland, OH – A flawless, 43.51 carat yellow diamond will be sold via a U.S. Marshals online auction starting Sept. 6. The notable diamond appears on lists of the top diamonds in the world.

The diamond was seized during an FBI undercover investigation in 2006 that resulted in the conviction of Paul Monea for money laundering. Monea is serving time in an Ohio federal prison with a scheduled release date in 2018. The diamond was initially forfeited to the government by a district court judge in 2007. Legal claims delayed the process until March, when the final forfeiture was ordered and the U.S. Marshals Service became responsible for selling the diamond, with proceeds to be deposited into the U.S. Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture fund. “This precious gem is sure to generate interest worldwide,” said U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott of the Northern District of Ohio.

The Gemological Institute of America graded the diamond and reported the following (GIA report 15154097):

Shape and cutting style: Modified rectangular brilliant

Measurements: 25.65 x 18.06 x 10.78 mm

Carat weight: 43.51

Color: Fancy intense yellow with a natural origin

Distribution: Even

Clarity grade: Internally flawless

Auction dates are Sept. 6-8.The minimum bid is $900,000, and a refundable deposit of $180,000 is required in order to place a bid.

For more information on the auction, go to

www.bid4assets.com/auction/index.cfm?auctionid=504373 or

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEMlNWZj3Gg.

The U.S. Marshals Service is responsible for managing and selling seized and forfeited properties acquired by federal criminals through illegal activities. Proceeds generated from asset sales are used to compensate victims, supplement funding for law enforcement initiatives and support community programs.

U.S. Marshals Selling Two Properties That Belonged to Convicted Fraudster Hassan Nemazee

WASHINGTON – Two N.Y. properties that belonged to convicted fraudster Hassan Nemazee have been listed for sale by a U.S. Marshals contractor. One of the properties, a New York City duplex, is listed at $28 million and is the highest-priced forfeited asset that the U.S. Marshals have ever listed for sale. Nemazee was convicted for a $292 million fraud scheme and is currently serving 12 years in a federal prison.

Information about the two properties is as follows:

Property address: 

770 Park Ave.

, Duplex Apartment 14A/15A, New York, NY

Contact:

Anne V. Corey, Sotheby's International Realty

Office: 212-606-7733

Cell: 917-270-Fax: 212-606-7661

Anne.Corey@Sothebyshomes.com

Property address: 

128-136 Mount Holly Rd., Katonah, NY

Contact:

Caroline Shepherd, Houlihan Lawrence Real Estate

Office: 914-393-2795

CSheperd@HoulihanLawrence.com

Angela Kessel, Houlihan Lawrence Real Estate

Office: 914-234-9099 ext. 359

Cell: 914-841-1919

akessel@houlihanlawrence.com

The U.S. Marshals Service is responsible for managing and selling seized and forfeited properties acquired by federal criminals through illegal activities. Proceeds generated from asset sales are used to compensate victims, supplement funding for law enforcement initiatives and support community programs.