7:25-cv-00237•UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. APPROXIMATELY 28,107 MASTER CASES OF CIGARETTES, et al
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. APPROXIMATELY 28,107 MASTER CASES OF CIGARETTES, et al
7:25-cv-00237TxsdApr 1, 2026
Full text
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS McALLEN DIVISION UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ' Plaintiff, ' v. ' CIVIL NO. 7:25-cv-00237 ' APPROXIMATELY 28,107 MASTER ' CASES OF CIGARETTES, ' ' APPROXIMATELY 1,600 MASTER ' CASES OF CIGARETTES, ' Defendants. ' DEFAULT JUDGMENT AND FINAL JUDGMENT OF FORFEITURE The Court has considered the United States’ Motion for Default Judgment and Final Judgment of Forfeiture and has decided to grant it. Based on the record and the applicable law, the Court finds that the Verified Complaint for Civil Forfeiture in Rem sets forth sufficiently detailed facts to support a reasonable belief that the United States would be able to meet its burden of proof at trial. The Court further finds that the United States published notice of the forfeiture and sent notice by means reasonably calculated to reach the potential claimants, satisfying Rule G(4) of the Supplemental Rules for Certain Admiralty and Maritime Claims and Asset Forfeiture Actions (Dkts 7 & 8). The time for filing a claim has expired, and there are no claimants before the Court. Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that: 1. Default is entered against potential claimant Rio Grande Valley Duty Free LLC and Juan Miranda Diaz, and they can claim no right, title, or interest in or to the Defendant Property; 2. Any other persons who could claim a right, title, or interest in the Defendant Property are held in default; 3. A judgment by default is entered against the Defendant Property; ~ United States District Court Southern District of Texas ENTERED April 01, 2026 Nathan Ochsner, Clerk Case 7:25-cv-00237 Document 18 Filed 04/01/26 in TXSD Page 1 of 2
2 4. The approximate 28,107 master cases of cigarettes are forfeited to the United States of America to be disposed of in accordance with law; 5. The approximate 1,600 master cases of cigarettes are forfeited to the United States of America to be disposed of in accordance with law. THIS IS A FINAL JUDGMENT. Signed this _____ day of ______________, 2026. ____________________________ DREW B. TIPTON Senior United States District Judge 1st April Case 7:25-cv-00237 Document 18 Filed 04/01/26 in TXSD Page 2 of 2
Wondering how this text applies to your situation?
Free consultation, no commitment
Describe your situation. Our team will contact you by email about your consultation.
Continue your research in ChatGPT or Claude
Connect Omnilex to search the legal corpus from your AI assistant.