{"id":"court_sdny_246_0","court":"SDNY","case_no":"23-cr-00118","doc_number":246,"sub_number":0,"doc_type":"ORDER","filed_date":"2024-03-04","title":"1(202) 551-1902 nicholasbassett@paulhastings.com March 5, 2024","summary_zh":"破产受托人律师函件（2024年3月5日）通知法院，破产法院已发出命令停止两项对抗诉讼（Civil RICO诉讼和Omnibus Alter Ego诉讼），直至刑事案（美国诉Ho Wan Kwok等，SDNY 1:23-cr-00118）结束为止（审判定于2024年5月20日开始）。停止令包含例外情形：针对被告K Legacy Ltd.的请求权不受停止影响，受托人可继续努力送达传票，并可申请临时救济以防止资产流失。","summary_en":"Letter from bankruptcy trustee's counsel (March 5, 2024) notifying court that bankruptcy court has entered order staying civil RICO and omnibus alter ego adversary proceedings pending conclusion of the criminal trial (United States v. Ho Wan Kwok, et al., SDNY case 1:23-cr-00118) scheduled to begin May 20, 2024. Stay includes exceptions: claims against defendant K Legacy Ltd. remain unaffected; trustee permitted to effect service and seek injunctive relief to prevent asset dissipation.","body_en":"1(202) 551-1902 nicholasbassett@paulhastings.com\n\nMarch 5, 2024\n\nHon. Analisa Torres United States District Court Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse 500 Pearl St. New York, NY 10007-1312\n\n#### Re: *United States v. Kwok, et al*, 1:23-cr-118 (AT)\n\nDear Judge Torres:\n\nAs the Court is aware, we represent Luc Despins, in his capacity as the chapter 11 trustee (the \"Trustee\") in the chapter 11 bankruptcy case of defendant Ho Wan Kwok pending in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut. As we indicated in our Response in Opposition to Defendant Ho Wan Kwok's Renewed Motion to Stay Bankruptcy Cases and Motion for Reconsideration, submitted January 19, 2024 (Dkt. 234, ¶¶ 9 and n.3, 21, 28), we have moved (the \"Motion\") before the Bankruptcy Court for entry of an order staying the adversary proceedings styled *Despins v. Ngok, et al.,* Adv. Proc. No. 24-5273 (referred to as the \"Civil RICO Action\") and *Despins v. ACA Capital Group Ltd., et al.,* Adv. Proc. No. 24-5249 (referred to as the \"Omnibus Alter Ego Action\") and addressing other matters pending the conclusion of the trial in the above-referenced criminal case before this Court. The as-filed Motion is affixed hereto as Exhibit 1.\n\nRespectfully submitted,\n\n/s/ Nicholas A. Bassett\n\nNicholas A. Bassett of PAUL HASTINGS LLP\n\nNAB\n\nEncl.\n\n## **EXHIBIT 1**\n\n### **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION**\n\n| -------------------------------------------------------------------- | X |                          |\n|----------------------------------------------------------------------|---|--------------------------|\n| In re:                                                               | : | Chapter 11               |\n| HO WAN KWOK, et al., <sup>1</sup>                                    | : | Case No. 22-50073 (JAM)  |\n| Debtor.                                                              | : | (Jointly Administered)   |\n| -------------------------------------------------------------------- | X |                          |\n| LUC A. DESPINS, Chapter 11 Trustee,                                  | : | Adv. Proceeding 24-05273 |\n| Plaintiff,                                                           | : |                          |\n| v.                                                                   | : |                          |\n| HING CHI NGOK, MEI GUO, QIANG GUO,                                   | : |                          |\n| WILLIAM JE, YVETTE WANG, XUEBING WANG,                               | : |                          |\n| MAX KRASNER, CHUNGUANG HAN,                                          | : |                          |\n| YONGBING ZHANG, AARON MITCHELL, GTV                                  | : |                          |\n| MEDIA GROUP, INC., SARACA MEDIA GROUP,                               | : |                          |\n| INC., HUDSON DIAMOND NY LLC, G-CLUB US                               | : |                          |\n| OPERATIONS LLC, BRAVO LUCK LIMITED,                                  | : |                          |\n| GREENWICH LAND LLC, CRANE ADVISORY                                   | : |                          |\n| GROUP L.L.C., G-CLUB OPERATIONS LLC, GS                              | : |                          |\n| SECURITY SOLUTIONS INC., GYPSY MEI FOOD                              | : |                          |\n| SERVICES LLC, HCHK TECHNOLOGIES INC.,                                | : |                          |\n| LEXINGTON PROPERTY AND STAFFING,                                     | : |                          |\n| HAMILTON OPPORTUNITY FUND SPC, TAURUS                                | : |                          |\n| FUND LLC, TAURUS MANAGEMENT LLC,                                     | : |                          |\n| LEADING SHINE NY LTD., ACA CAPITAL                                   | : |                          |\n| GROUP LIMITED, RULE OF LAW FOUNDATION                                | : |                          |\n| III, INC., RULE OF LAW SOCIETY IV, INC.,                             | : |                          |\n| HAMILTON PE FUND SP, HAMILTON DIGITAL                                | : |                          |\n\n<sup>1</sup> The Debtors in these chapter 11 cases are Ho Wan Kwok (also known as Guo Wengui, Miles Guo, and Miles Kwok, as well as numerous other aliases) (last four digits of tax identification number: 9595), Genever Holdings LLC (last four digits of tax identification number: 8202), and Genever Holdings Corporation. The mailing address for the Trustee, Genever Holdings LLC, and the Genever Holdings Corporation is Paul Hastings LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166 c/o Luc A. Despins, as Trustee for the Estate of Ho Wan Kwok (solely for purposes of notices and communications).\n\n| ASSETS FUND SP, HIMALAYA CURRENCY<br>CLEARING PTY. LTD, HIMALAYA<br>INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL GROUP LIMITED,<br>HOLY CITY HONG KONG VENTURES, LTD.,<br>VICTOR CERDA, ANA C. IZQUIERDO-HENN,<br>HAITHAM KHALED, JESSICA<br>MASTROGIOVANNI, ALEX<br>HADJICHARALAMBOUS, BEILE LI, ANTHONY<br>DIBATTISTA, GLADYS CHOW, SCOTT<br>BARNETT, HAORAN HE, HSIN SHIH YU,<br>LIMARIE REYES MOLINARIS, NICHOLAS<br>SAVIO, QIDONG XIA, YAN CHUN LIU, GETTR<br>USA, INC., G CLUB INTERNATIONAL LIMITED,<br>GNEWS MEDIA GROUP INC. HIMALAYA<br>INTERNATIONAL CLEARING LTD., HUDSON<br>DIAMOND HOLDINGS LLC, LAWALL &<br>MITCHELL, LLC, O.S.C. ORBIT SERVICE<br>COMPANY LLC, and SAVIO LAW LLC<br>Defendants.<br>-------------------------------------------------------------------- | :<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>x |\n|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|\n| LUC A. DESPINS, Chapter 11 Trustee,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | :<br>:<br>:<br>Adv. Proceeding 24-05249                                                               |\n| Plaintiff,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | :<br>:                                                                                                |\n| v.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | :<br>:                                                                                                |\n| ACA CAPITAL GROUP LTD., ALFA GLOBAL<br>VENTURES LIMITED, ALFONSO GLOBAL<br>VENTURES LIMITED, ANTON DEVELOPMENT<br>LIMITED, BRAVO LUCK LIMITED, CELESTIAL<br>TIDE LIMITED, CHINA GOLDEN SPRING<br>GROUP (HONG KONG) LTD., EASTERN PROFIT<br>CORPORATION LIMITED, FREEDOM MEDIA<br>VENTURES LIMITED, G CLUB INTERNATIONAL<br>LIMITED, G CLUB OPERATIONS LLC,<br>G FASHION (CA), G FASHION HOLD CO A<br>LIMITED, G FASHION HOLD CO B LIMITED, G<br>FASHION INTERNATIONAL LIMITED,<br>GFASHION MEDIA GROUP INC., G MUSIC LLC,<br>GF IP, LLC, GF ITALY, LLC, GFNY, INC.,<br>HAMILTON CAPITAL HOLDING LIMITED,<br>HAMILTON INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT<br>LIMITED, HAMILTON OPPORTUNITY FUND                                                                                   | :<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:                          |\n\nSPC, HAORAN HE, HIMALAYA CURRENCY CLEARING PTY LTD., HIMALAYA INTERNATIONAL CLEARING LIMITED, HIMALAYA INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL GROUP LIMITED, HIMALAYA INTERNATIONAL PAYMENTS LIMITED, HIMALAYA INTERNATIONAL RESERVES LIMITED, JOVIAL CENTURY INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, K LEGACY LTD., KARIN MAISTRELLO, LEADING SHINE LIMITED, MAJOR LEAD INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, MEI GUO, NEXT TYCOON INVESTMENTS LIMITED, QIANG GUO, RULE OF LAW FOUNDATION III, INC., RULE OF LAW SOCIETY IV, INC., SARACA MEDIA GROUP, INC., SEVEN MISSION GROUP LLC, WILLIAM JE, WISE CREATION INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :\n\nDefendants.\n\n--------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n## **TRUSTEE'S MOTION TO STAY ADVERSARY PROCEEDINGS AND OBTAIN OTHER RELIEF PENDING DISPOSITION OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDING**\n\n: x\n\nLuc A. Despins, in his capacity as the chapter 11 trustee (the \"Trustee\") appointed in the chapter 11 case of Ho Wan Kwok (the \"Debtor\"), by and through his undersigned counsel, hereby files this motion (the \"Motion\") for entry of the proposed order filed herewith as **Exhibit 1** (the \"Proposed Order\") staying the adversary proceedings styled *Despins v. Ngok, et al*., Adv. Proc. No. 24-5273 (the \"Civil RICO Action\") and *Despins v. ACA Capital Group Ltd. et al.*, Adv. Proc. No. 24-5249 (the \"Omnibus Alter Ego Action,\" and together with the Civil RICO Action, the \"Subject Adversary Proceedings\") and addressing other matters pending disposition of the criminal case pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (the \"Criminal Court\") captioned *United States of America v. Ho Wan Kwok, et al.*, Case No. 23- CR-118 (AT) (the \"Criminal Case\").\n\n#### **PRELIMINARY STATEMENT**\n\n1. On February 15, 2024, the Trustee commenced the Civil RICO Action and the Omnibus Alter Ego Action against a total of approximately 109 defendants. The Civil RICO Action alleges that the Debtor and a number of his associates conspired to form and operate, and did operate, a fraudulent enterprise to keep the Debtor's assets from his creditors, committing a number of predicate criminal acts in the process. The Trustee seeks damages from the Civil RICO Defendants2 for the harm their actions caused to creditors. Meanwhile, the Omnibus Alter Ego Action seeks a declaratory judgment that various shell companies and other entities are the Debtor's alter egos (and/or beneficially owned by him), such that their assets are property of the estate. On February 29, 2024, summons were issued in the Subject Adversary Proceedings. The Trustee is in the process of serving the Civil RICO/Alter Ego Defendants.\n\n2. The Trustee commenced the Civil RICO Action and the Omnibus Alter Ego Action when he did to, among other things, ensure he met the statutory deadline of February 15, 2024 (the \"February 15 Deadline\") to bring certain types of claims under title 11 of the United States Code (the \"Bankruptcy Code\"). In addition to the Civil RICO Action and the Omnibus Alter Ego Action, the Trustee also commenced approximately 270 other actions on or shortly before the February 15 Deadline. Most of these other actions involve claims to recover actual or constructive fraudulent transfers and unauthorized post-petition transfers.\n\n3. The Trustee is keenly aware of the administrative burdens that the simultaneous pursuit of such a large number of actions may place on the parties and the Court. The Civil RICO Action and the Omnibus Alter Ego Action, in particular, could be especially taxing on the parties' and the Court's resources given the complexity of the issues they raise and the number of\n\n<sup>2</sup> Capitalized terms not defined in this Preliminary Statement have the meanings given to such terms in the remainder the Motion.\n\ndefendants they involve. For these reasons, the Trustee believes a temporary stay of some of the recently-commenced litigation is necessary from a case management standpoint.\n\n4. The Trustee also believes a stay is warranted in light of the forthcoming trial in the Debtor's Criminal Case, which is set to begin on or around May 20, 2024. As the Court is aware, the Debtor has filed a renewed motion with the Criminal Court for an order staying this chapter 11 case in its entirety based on, among other things, the allegation that the Trustee's pursuit of the claims at issue in the Civil RICO Action and the Omnibus Alter Ego Action would interfere with his criminal defense rights.<sup>3</sup> Although the Trustee has objected to the Debtor's motion and believes it lacks merit, the Trustee has informed the Criminal Court that he will seek to stay the Civil RICO Action and the Omnibus Alter Ego Action in order to moot the Debtor's arguments and eliminate any possibility of a global stay of the Debtor's chapter 11 case.\n\n5. For these reasons and the others set forth herein, the Trustee believes it is in the estate's best interest for the Court to stay the Subject Adversary Proceedings as set forth in the Proposed Order until the conclusion of the trial in the Criminal Case. During this stay period, the Trustee would be able to continue serving the Civil RICO/Alter Ego Defendants (to ensure they receive notice of the litigation as soon as possible) and would also reserve his rights, upon notice to the parties in the Criminal Case, to seek injunctive or other relief as necessary to guard against the dissipation of assets or otherwise protect the estate. The Subject Adversary Proceedings would otherwise be stayed as set forth in the Proposed Order.\n\n6. In addition to staying the Subject Adversary Proceedings, the Trustee also requests an order temporarily staying depositions in the main bankruptcy case, including without limitation\n\n<sup>3</sup> *See* Criminal Case, [ECF No. 218]. References to docket entries in the Criminal Case will be presented as \"ECF No. [ ],\" while references to docket entries in the Subject Adversary Proceedings or the main bankruptcy case will be presented as \"Docket No.\" or \"Dkt. No.\"\n\nthe taking of depositions pursuant to Rule 2004 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure. Such a stay is necessary because the Trustee wishes to avoid any possibility of deposing parties who are witnesses in the Criminal Case, otherwise interfering with the Government's prosecution of the Criminal Case, or giving the Debtor further grounds to support his requested stay of his chapter 11 case in its entirety. The Trustee would reserve the right during the stay period to move the Court for permission to take a deposition, upon notice to the parties to the Criminal Case, if necessary to protect estate assets or ensure the orderly administration of the chapter 11 estate.\n\n7. For these reasons, and because the requested stays are well-within the sound discretion of the Court in managing its docket, the Trustee respectfully requests this Motion be granted and the Court enter the Proposed Order imposing the requested stays.\n\n#### **BACKGROUND**\n\n8. On February 15, 2022, the Debtor commenced the above-captioned chapter 11 case (the \"Chapter 11 Case\"). On June 15, 2022, the Bankruptcy Court entered a memorandum of decision and order directing the United States Trustee to appoint a chapter 11 trustee. Main Case,<sup>4</sup> [Docket No. 465]. On July 8, 2022, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order appointing the Trustee. *Id.,* [Docket No. 523].\n\n9. On January 18, 2024, the Trustee filed the *Motion for Entry of Order Extending Deadline for Trustee to File Avoidance Actions under Bankruptcy Code Sections 108, 546(a), and 549* [Docket No. 2509] seeking to extend the deadline to file avoidance actions from February 15, 2024 to August 15, 2024 to allow him to complete his investigation.\n\n10. On February 15, 2024, the Court entered its *Memorandum of Decision and Order Granting in Part Motion to Extend Deadlines* [Docket No. 2921] (the \"Extension Decision\"),\n\n<sup>4</sup> References to the \"Main Case\" are to docket number 22-50073.\n\nextending the deadline to file avoidance actions until August 15, 2024, which date is subject to further extensions upon notice and hearing.\n\n11. On or shortly before the February 15 Deadline and the Court's Extension Decision, in accordance with his statutory obligations, the Trustee filed approximately 270 avoidance actions, the Omnibus Alter Ego Action and the Civil RICO Action.\n\n12. The Omnibus Alter Ego Action was filed against 52 defendants (the \"Alter Ego Defendants\") and seeks a ruling that, among other things, the Alter Ego Defendants are the alter ego of the Debtor, and/or the Debtor beneficially owns the Alter Ego Defendants, and the property of the Alter Ego Defendants is thus property of the estate.\n\n13. The Civil RICO Action was filed against 57 defendants<sup>5</sup> (the \"Civil RICO Defendants,\" together with the Alter Ego Defendants, the \"Civil RICO/Alter Ego Defendants\"). The Civil RICO Action contains two causes of action: violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (\"RICO\") and conspiracy to violate RICO. Both the substantive count and the conspiracy count were brought against all of the Civil RICO Defendants.\n\n14. In or around March 2023, an indictment was returned by a grand jury against the Debtor, William Je, and Yvette Wang (together, the \"Criminal Defendants\") and eventually unsealed before the Criminal Court. *See* Criminal Case, [ECF Nos. 1 and 2]. On January 4, 2024, the United States filed a superseding indictment that is the operative indictment as of the date of this filing (the \"Superseding Indictment\"). Criminal Case, [ECF No. 215].\n\n15. The Superseding Indictment was discussed in the Civil RICO Action and Omnibus Alter Ego Action. In particular, in the Civil RICO Action, the Trustee invokes and relies on the\n\n<sup>5</sup> Certain entities and/or individuals are defendants in both of the Subject Adversary Proceedings.\n\nSuperseding Indictment in the Criminal Case as illustrating numerous illegal acts involved in the fraudulent scheme detailed therein.\n\n16. The Superseding Indictment in the Criminal Case discusses various alleged illegal acts of the Debtor, William Je, Yvette Wang and their affiliated entities, many of which are Civil RICO Defendants and/or Alter Ego Defendants.\n\n17. In the Criminal Case, on August 30, 2023, the Debtor filed the *Motion for an Order and Writ Staying Bankruptcy Cases or in the Alternative for Other Relief* [ECF No. 129] (the \"First Stay Motion\") seeking an order from the Criminal Court staying the Chapter 11 Case, as well as the bankruptcy cases (the \"Genever Cases,\" and together with the Chapter 11 Case, the \"Chapter 11 Cases\") of Genever Holdings Corporation (\"Genever BVI\") Genever Holdings LLC (\"Genever US\" and, together with Genever BVI, the \"Genever Debtors\"), which are being jointly administered with the Chapter 11 Case and involve the Debtor. On September 21, 2023, the Trustee and Genever Debtors filed a response to the First Stay Motion. Criminal Case, [ECF No.145]. On December 21, 2023, the Criminal Court denied the Debtor's First Stay Motion. *Id.,* [ECF No. 204].\n\n18. Subsequently, on January 4, 2024, the Debtor filed a *Renewed Motion to Stay Bankruptcy Cases and Motion for Reconsideration* (the \"Renewed Stay Motion\") in the Criminal Case to stay all three Chapter 11 Cases. *Id.,* [ECF No. 218]. On January 19, 2024, the Trustee and the Genever Debtors filed a response to the Renewed Stay Motion. *Id.,* [ECF No. 234]. In support of both the First Stay Motion and the Renewed Stay Motion, the Debtor has argued that there are issues in the Chapter 11 Cases that implicate his Constitutional rights and could prejudice his defense in the Criminal Case. The Renewed Stay Motion remains pending before the Criminal Court in the Criminal Case.\n\n19. The trial in the Criminal Case is scheduled to begin on or around May 20, 2024.\n\n#### **RELIEF REQUESTED**\n\n20. The Trustee respectfully requests that the Court (a) stay the Subject Adversary Proceedings as set forth in the Proposed Order until the conclusion of the trial in the Criminal Case, subject to the Trustee's ability to (i) continue serving the Civil RICO/Alter Ego Defendants and (ii) upon application to this Court and notice to the parties in the Criminal Case, seek injunctive or other relief in the Subject Adversary Proceedings as necessary to protect the chapter 11 estate, and (b) stay the taking of depositions in the Chapter 11 Cases or in associated adversary proceedings, until the conclusion of the trial in the Criminal Case, subject to the Trustee's ability to move for permission to take depositions, with notice to the parties to the Criminal Case.\n\n#### **BASIS FOR RELIEF REQUESTED**\n\n21. It is undisputed that all courts have the inherent power to stay civil cases before them. *Landis v. N. Am. Co*., 299 U.S. 248, 254–55 (1936). It is within a court's discretion to stay civil litigation during the pendency of a concurrent criminal action \"when the interests of justice seem to require such action, sometimes at the request of the [plaintiff], ... sometimes at the request of the defense[.]\" *United States v. Kordel*, 397 U.S. 1, 12 n.27 (1970).\n\n22. \"Courts have the inherent power to control their dockets while taking into account the 'economy of time and effort' for the court, counsel, and litigants.\" *In re Kowalski*, 633 B.R. 822, 827 (Bankr. N.D. Ill. 2021) (quoting *Landis v. N. Am. Co*., 299 U.S. at 254). Several bankruptcy courts have stayed adversary proceedings until the disposition of a concurrent criminal case. *See, e.g.*, *In re Julmice*, 458 B.R. 657, 661-62 (Bankr. E.D.N.Y. 2011) (staying adversary proceeding given the ongoing criminal proceeding); *In re Kowalski*, 633 B.R. at 829 (staying adversary proceeding \"until the conclusion of the criminal case in which Jan Kowalski and the\n\nDebtor are charged with conspiracy to embezzle bank funds, bankruptcy fraud, and concealment of assets, among other charges.\").\n\n23. The stay requested by the Trustee herein is appropriate both to help manage the volume of litigation before this Court and to prevent any possibility of interference with the Debtor's pending Criminal Case, in which trial will soon be commencing. As noted above, the Trustee has recently filed more than 270 adversary proceedings in this Court, including the Subject Adversary Proceedings. Given the issues and the number of defendants involved, the simultaneous pursuit of these adversary proceedings would be administratively taxing on the parties and on the Court. By staying the Subject Adversary Proceedings until the conclusion of the trial in the Criminal Case, the Court, the Trustee, and all other parties will have the time necessary to determine an orderly and efficient schedule for the litigation once all defendants have been served.\n\n24. The stay is also appropriate to ensure that the Trustee's litigation does not interfere with the Criminal Case and to moot the Debtor's request for a global stay of the chapter 11 cases. To be clear, the Trustee believes the Debtor's global stay request has no merit and should be denied; however, because a global stay would be extremely prejudicial to the chapter 11 estate, the Trustee believes it is important to guard against the possibility of such a stay, however remote it may be. To that end, the stay proposed by the Trustee will moot the Debtor's arguments that the Trustee's pursuit of the Subject Adversary Proceedings would interfere with his criminal rights due to the overlap between the subject matter of the Trustee's claims and allegations made in the Superseding Indictment. Meanwhile, the estate's rights are protected during the stay period by the provision in the Proposed Order permitting the Trustee to seek injunctive relief to prevent dissipation of estate assets or otherwise guard against actions that could irreparably harm the estate.\n\n25. Just as the estate's interests are protected by the requested stay, the Civil RICO/Alter Ego Defendants' rights and interests are enhanced by the stay. The Proposed Order provides such defendants with additional time to consider the Subject Adversary Proceedings' allegations and claims and to evaluate defenses. Additionally, as a result of any stay, the Civil RICO/Alter Ego Defendants will avoid the burdens and costs of litigating the Subject Adversary Proceedings during the same period that the Criminal Case is going to trial. To the extent a Civil RICO/Alter Ego Defendant might have concerns that its response to the Subject Adversary Proceedings could put it in legal jeopardy with respect to evidence or testimony in the Criminal Case, such fears would be assuaged by entering the limited stay requested herein.\n\n26. Finally, the additional request for a stay of deposition discovery is also justified under the circumstances of this case to avoid any possibility of interference with the Criminal Case. The Trustee does not want to inadvertently depose a party who is set to be a witness in the Criminal Case in a manner that could interfere with the Government's prosecution or give the Debtor further grounds to support his request for a global stay. Importantly, the Trustee would reserve the right during the stay period to move the Court for permission to take a deposition, upon notice to the parties to the Criminal Case, if necessary to protect estate assets or ensure the orderly administration of the chapter 11 estate.<sup>6</sup>\n\n[*Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank.*]\n\n<sup>6</sup> For the avoidance of doubt, the Proposed Order would not prohibit the Trustee from continuing to file additional motions for Rule 2004 discovery seeking authority to serve subpoenas for document productions and depositions on various parties. The Proposed Order would only apply to the Trustee's ability to take depositions pursuant to such subpoenas during the stay period.\n\nWHEREFORE, for the foregoing reasons, the Trustee respectfully requests that the Court enter the Proposed Order granting the relief requested herein.\n\nDated: March 4, 2024\n\nBy: */s/ Nicholas A. Bassett* Douglass Barron (admitted *pro hac vice*) PAUL HASTINGS LLP 200 Park Avenue New York, New York 10166 (212) 318-6079 douglassbarron@paulhastings.com\n\n*and*\n\nNicholas A. Bassett (admitted *pro hac vice*) PAUL HASTINGS LLP 2050 M Street NW Washington, D.C., 20036 (202) 551-1902 nicholasbassett@paulhastings.com\n\n*and*\n\nDouglas S. Skalka (ct00616) Patrick R. Linsey (ct29437) NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C. 195 Church Street, 13th Floor New Haven, Connecticut 06510 (203) 781-2847 dskalka@npmlaw.com plinsey@npmlaw.com\n\n*Counsel for the Chapter 11 Trustee*\n\n## **EXHIBIT 1**\n\n**Proposed Order**\n\n### **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION**\n\n| --------------------------------------------------------------------                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | x                                                             |\n|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|\n| In re:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | :<br>:<br>Chapter 11                                          |\n| HO WAN KWOK, et al.,<br>1                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 | :<br>:<br>Case No. 22-50073 (JAM)                             |\n| Debtor.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | :<br>:<br>(Jointly Administered)                              |\n| --------------------------------------------------------------------<br>LUC A. DESPINS, Chapter 11 Trustee,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | x<br>:<br>:<br>Adv. Proceeding 24-05273                       |\n| Plaintiff,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | :<br>:                                                        |\n| v.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | :<br>:                                                        |\n| HING CHI NGOK, MEI GUO, QIANG GUO,<br>WILLIAM JE, YVETTE WANG, XUEBING WANG,<br>MAX KRASNER, CHUNGUANG HAN,<br>YONGBING ZHANG, AARON MITCHELL, GTV<br>MEDIA GROUP, INC., SARACA MEDIA GROUP,<br>INC., HUDSON DIAMOND NY LLC, G-CLUB US<br>OPERATIONS LLC, BRAVO LUCK LIMITED,<br>GREENWICH LAND LLC, CRANE ADVISORY<br>GROUP L.L.C., G-CLUB OPERATIONS LLC, GS<br>SECURITY SOLUTIONS INC., GYPSY MEI FOOD<br>SERVICES LLC,<br>HCHK TECHNOLOGIES INC.,<br>LEXINGTON PROPERTY AND STAFFING, | :<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>: |\n| HAMILTON OPPORTUNITY FUND SPC, TAURUS<br>FUND LLC, TAURUS MANAGEMENT LLC,<br>LEADING SHINE NY LTD., ACA CAPITAL<br>GROUP LIMITED, RULE OF LAW FOUNDATION<br>III, INC., RULE OF LAW SOCIETY IV, INC.,<br>HAMILTON PE FUND SP, HAMILTON DIGITAL                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | :<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:                                    |\n\n<sup>1</sup> The Debtors in these chapter 11 cases are Ho Wan Kwok (also known as Guo Wengui, Miles Guo, and Miles Kwok, as well as numerous other aliases) (last four digits of tax identification number: 9595), Genever Holdings LLC (last four digits of tax identification number: 8202), and Genever Holdings Corporation. The mailing address for the Trustee, Genever Holdings LLC, and the Genever Holdings Corporation is Paul Hastings LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166 c/o Luc A. Despins, as Trustee for the Estate of Ho Wan Kwok (solely for purposes of notices and communications).\n\n| ASSETS FUND SP, HIMALAYA CURRENCY                                                   | :                                                      |\n|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|\n| CLEARING PTY. LTD, HIMALAYA                                                         | :                                                      |\n| INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL GROUP LIMITED,                                              | :                                                      |\n| HOLY CITY HONG KONG VENTURES, LTD.,                                                 | :                                                      |\n| VICTOR CERDA, ANA C. IZQUIERDO-HENN,                                                | :                                                      |\n| HAITHAM KHALED, JESSICA                                                             | :                                                      |\n| MASTROGIOVANNI, ALEX                                                                | :                                                      |\n| HADJICHARALAMBOUS, BEILE LI, ANTHONY                                                | :                                                      |\n| DIBATTISTA, GLADYS CHOW, SCOTT                                                      | :                                                      |\n| BARNETT, HAORAN HE, HSIN SHIH YU,                                                   | :                                                      |\n| LIMARIE REYES MOLINARIS, NICHOLAS                                                   | :                                                      |\n| SAVIO, QIDONG XIA, YAN CHUN LIU, GETTR                                              | :                                                      |\n| USA, INC., G CLUB INTERNATIONAL LIMITED,                                            | :                                                      |\n| GNEWS MEDIA GROUP INC. HIMALAYA                                                     | :                                                      |\n| INTERNATIONAL CLEARING LTD., HUDSON                                                 | :                                                      |\n| DIAMOND HOLDINGS LLC, LAWALL &                                                      | :                                                      |\n| MITCHELL, LLC, O.S.C. ORBIT SERVICE                                                 | :                                                      |\n| COMPANY LLC, and SAVIO LAW LLC                                                      | :                                                      |\n| Defendants.<br>-------------------------------------------------------------------- | :<br>:<br>x                                            |\n| LUC A. DESPINS, Chapter 11 Trustee,<br>Plaintiff,<br>v.                             | :<br>:<br>:<br>Adv. Proceeding 24-05249<br>:<br>:<br>: |\n| ACA CAPITAL GROUP LTD., ALFA GLOBAL                                                 | :                                                      |\n| VENTURES LIMITED, ALFONSO GLOBAL                                                    | :                                                      |\n| VENTURES LIMITED, ANTON DEVELOPMENT                                                 | :                                                      |\n| LIMITED, BRAVO LUCK LIMITED, CELESTIAL                                              | :                                                      |\n| TIDE LIMITED, CHINA GOLDEN SPRING                                                   | :                                                      |\n| GROUP (HONG KONG) LTD., EASTERN PROFIT                                              | :                                                      |\n| CORPORATION LIMITED, FREEDOM MEDIA                                                  | :                                                      |\n| VENTURES LIMITED, G CLUB INTERNATIONAL                                              | :                                                      |\n| LIMITED, G CLUB OPERATIONS LLC,                                                     | :                                                      |\n| G FASHION (CA), G FASHION HOLD CO A                                                 | :                                                      |\n| LIMITED, G FASHION HOLD CO B LIMITED, G                                             | :                                                      |\n| FASHION INTERNATIONAL LIMITED,                                                      | :                                                      |\n| GFASHION MEDIA GROUP INC., G MUSIC LLC,                                             | :                                                      |\n| GF IP, LLC, GF ITALY, LLC, GFNY, INC.,                                              | :                                                      |\n| HAMILTON CAPITAL HOLDING LIMITED,                                                   | :                                                      |\n| HAMILTON INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT                                                      | :                                                      |\n\nLIMITED, HAMILTON OPPORTUNITY FUND SPC, HAORAN HE, HIMALAYA CURRENCY CLEARING PTY LTD., HIMALAYA INTERNATIONAL CLEARING LIMITED, HIMALAYA INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL GROUP LIMITED, HIMALAYA INTERNATIONAL PAYMENTS LIMITED, HIMALAYA INTERNATIONAL RESERVES LIMITED, JOVIAL CENTURY INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, K LEGACY LTD., KARIN MAISTRELLO, LEADING SHINE LIMITED, MAJOR LEAD INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, MEI GUO, NEXT TYCOON INVESTMENTS LIMITED, QIANG GUO, RULE OF LAW FOUNDATION III, INC., RULE OF LAW SOCIETY IV, INC., SARACA MEDIA GROUP, INC., SEVEN MISSION GROUP LLC, WILLIAM JE, WISE CREATION INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :\n\nDefendants.\n\n--------------------------------------------------------------------\n\n## **[PROPOSED] ORDER STAYING ADVERSARY PROCEEDINGS AND GRANTING OTHER RELIEF PENDING DISPOSITION OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDING**\n\n: x\n\nUpon the motion (the \"*Motion*\")<sup>2</sup> of Luc A. Despins, in his capacity as the chapter 11 trustee (the \"Trustee\") appointed in the chapter 11 case of Ho Wan Kwok (the \"Debtor\"), for the entry of an order (this \"Order\"), pursuant to section 105(a) of Title 11 of the United States Code (the \"Bankruptcy Code\"), Rule 7016 the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (the \"Bankruptcy Rules\"), and Rule 7016-1 of the District of Connecticut Local Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (the \"Local Bankruptcy Rules\"), to stay Adversary Proceeding Nos. 24-5249 (the \"Omnibus Alter Ego Adversary Proceeding\") and 24-5273 (the \"Civil RICO Adversary Proceeding\", and, together with Omnibus Alter Ego Adversary Proceeding, the \"Subject Adversary Proceedings\") and address other matters pending the conclusion of Debtor's criminal trial; and this Court having jurisdiction\n\n<sup>2</sup> Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Order have the meanings ascribed to them in the Motion.\n\nto consider the Motion and the relief requested therein in accordance with 28 U.S.C. §§ 157 and 1334 and the *Standing Order of Reference* from the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut; and consideration of the Motion and the relief requested therein being a core proceeding pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(b); and venue being proper in this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1408 and 1409; and the Court having found that the relief requested in the Motion is in the best interest of the Debtor's chapter 11 estate, its creditors, and all parties in interest; and due and sufficient notice of the Motion having been given under the particular circumstances; and it appearing that no other or further notice need be given; and upon all of the proceedings had before this Court; and any objections to the relief requested herein having been withdrawn or overruled on the merits; and after due deliberation and sufficient cause appearing therefor, it is hereby ORDERED THAT:\n\n1. The Motion is granted as set forth herein.\n\n2. Subject to paragraph 5 below, the Subject Adversary Proceedings are hereby stayed pending the conclusion of the criminal trial (the \"Criminal Trial\") in the case captioned *United States of America v. Ho Wan Kwok, et al.*, Case No. 23-CR-118 (AT) (the \"Criminal Case\"), pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (the \"Criminal Court\"), which trial is presently set to begin on May 20, 2024.\n\n3. Following the conclusion of the Criminal Trial, the Trustee shall file a notice of resumption of the Subject Adversary Proceedings in both this Court and in the Criminal Court, upon which filings the stay shall terminate (the period from the entry of this Order until such termination, the \"Stay Period\").\n\n4. Subject to paragraph 5 below, all activity in the Subject Adversary Proceedings shall be stayed and suspended for the duration of the Stay Period, including without limitation the deadline for parties to answer or otherwise respond to the applicable complaints. No answers or other responses, including without limitation under Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 7012, may be filed or served during the Stay Period. Upon the conclusion of the Stay Period, subject to further order of the Court, all defendants who have been served with the applicable summons and complaint shall have 30 days from the date of termination of the Stay Period to answer or otherwise respond to such complaint.\n\n5. Notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary: (a) the Trustee's claims against defendant K Legacy, Ltd. and Qiang Guo in his capacity as nominal owner of K Legacy, Ltd. in the Omnibus Alter Ego Adversary Proceeding shall not be stayed or otherwise affected by this Order; and (b) the Trustee shall be permitted during the Stay Period to (i) undertake efforts to effect service of the summonses and complaints on the defendants to the Subject Adversary Proceedings, and (ii) upon motion to this Court, with notice of such motion filed in the Criminal Court, seek injunctive or other relief in the Subject Adversary Proceedings to prevent irreparable harm to the estate, such as relief necessary to prevent the dissipation of potential estate assets.\n\n6. Absent further order of the Court, no depositions shall occur in the main bankruptcy case, including without limitation pursuant to Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 2004 subpoenas, or in any adversary proceeding, including without limitation the Subject Adversary Proceedings, during the Stay Period. To the extent the Trustee deems it necessary to pursue a deposition during the Stay Period to protect estate assets or ensure the orderly administration of the chapter 11 estate, the Trustee may file a motion with this Court, upon notice to the parties to the Criminal Case, requesting permission to take such deposition.\n\n7. The Court retains jurisdiction with respect to all matters arising from or related to the implementation of this Order.\n\n8. This Order shall be effective immediately upon entry.","body_zh":"1(202) 551-1902 nicholasbassett@paulhastings.com\n\n2024年3月5日\n\n致：Analisa Torres（阿纳丽莎·托雷斯）法官，United States District Court（美国联邦地区法院），Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse（丹尼尔·帕特里克·莫伊尼汉美国联邦法院大楼），500 Pearl St. New York, NY 10007-1312\n事由：United States v. Kwok, et al（美国 诉 郭等案），案号 1:23-cr-118 (AT)\n\n尊敬的托雷斯法官：\n\n正如本法院所知，我们代表 Luc Despins（吕克·德斯平斯），其身份为正由 United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut（美国康涅狄格区联邦破产法院）审理的被告 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵）第11章破产案中的第11章受托人（下称“受托人”）。正如我们在2024年1月19日提交的《反对被告郭文贵关于中止破产案件的重新提起的动议及复议动议的答辩书》（Dkt. 234，第9段及附注3、第21段、第28段）中所述，我们已向破产法院提出动议（下称“该动议”），请求作出命令，中止案号为 Adv. Proc. No. 24-5273、案由为 Despins v. Ngok, et al.（德斯平斯 诉 岳等案，下称“民事 RICO 诉讼”）以及案号为 Adv. Proc. No. 24-5249、案由为 Despins v. ACA Capital Group Ltd., et al.（德斯平斯 诉 ACA Capital Group Ltd.等案，下称“统括另我诉讼”）的对抗制诉讼程序，并处理其他事项，直至本法院审理的上述刑事案件庭审结束。已提交的动议作为证据 1 附于本函之后。\n\n谨此提交，\n\n/s/ Nicholas A. Bassett\n\nPAUL HASTINGS LLP（普衡律师事务所）的 Nicholas A. Bassett（尼古拉斯·A·巴塞特）\n\nNAB\n\n附件：\n证据 1\n美国康涅狄格区联邦破产法院布里奇波特分院\n-------------------------------------------------------------------- X\n关于： : 第11章\nHO WAN KWOK, et al., 1（郭文贵等，1） : 案号：22-50073 (JAM)\n债务人。 : （合并管理）\n-------------------------------------------------------------------- X\nLUC A. DESPINS（吕克·A·德斯平斯），第11章受托人， : 对抗制诉讼案号：24-05273\n原告， :\n诉 :\nHING CHI NGOK（岳庆芝）, MEI GUO（郭美）, QIANG GUO（郭强）, :\nWILLIAM JE（余建明）, YVETTE WANG（王雁平）, XUEBING WANG（王雪冰）, :\nMAX KRASNER, CHUNGUANG HAN（韩春光）, :\nYONGBING ZHANG（张永兵）, AARON MITCHELL, GTV :\nMEDIA GROUP, INC., SARACA MEDIA GROUP, :\nINC., HUDSON DIAMOND NY LLC, G-CLUB US :\nOPERATIONS LLC, BRAVO LUCK LIMITED, :\nGREENWICH LAND LLC, CRANE ADVISORY :\nGROUP L.L.C., G-CLUB OPERATIONS LLC, GS :\nSECURITY SOLUTIONS INC., GYPSY MEI FOOD :\nSERVICES LLC, HCHK TECHNOLOGIES INC., :\nLEXINGTON PROPERTY AND STAFFING, :\nHAMILTON OPPORTUNITY FUND SPC, TAURUS :\nFUND LLC, TAURUS MANAGEMENT LLC, :\nLEADING SHINE NY LTD., ACA CAPITAL :\nGROUP LIMITED, RULE OF LAW FOUNDATION :\nIII, INC.（法治基金三期公司）, RULE OF LAW SOCIETY IV, INC.（法治社会四期公司）, :\nHAMILTON PE FUND SP, HAMILTON DIGITAL :\n\n1 这些第11章案件中的债务人为 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵，亦称 Guo Wengui、Miles Guo 及 Miles Kwok，以及诸多其他化名）（纳税人识别号后四位：9595）、Genever Holdings LLC（纳税人识别号后四位：8202）及 Genever Holdings Corporation。受托人、Genever Holdings LLC 及 Genever Holdings Corporation 的邮寄地址为：Paul Hastings LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166 转交 Luc A. Despins，以郭文贵破产财产受托人身份收（仅用于通知与联络目的）。\nASSETS FUND SP, HIMALAYA CURRENCY\nCLEARING PTY. LTD, HIMALAYA\nINTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL GROUP LIMITED,\nHOLY CITY HONG KONG VENTURES, LTD.,\nVICTOR CERDA, ANA C. IZQUIERDO-HENN,\nHAITHAM KHALED, JESSICA\nMASTROGIOVANNI, ALEX\nHADJICHARALAMBOUS, BEILE LI, ANTHONY\nDIBATTISTA, GLADYS CHOW, SCOTT\nBARNETT, HAORAN HE, HSIN SHIH YU,\nLIMARIE REYES MOLINARIS, NICHOLAS\nSAVIO, QIDONG XIA, YAN CHUN LIU, GETTR\nUSA, INC., G CLUB INTERNATIONAL LIMITED,\nGNEWS MEDIA GROUP INC. HIMALAYA\nINTERNATIONAL CLEARING LTD., HUDSON\nDIAMOND HOLDINGS LLC, LAWALL &\nMITCHELL, LLC, O.S.C. ORBIT SERVICE\nCOMPANY LLC, and SAVIO LAW LLC\n被告。\n\nx\nLUC A. DESPINS（吕克·A·德斯平斯），第11章受托人， :\n:\n:\n对抗制诉讼案号：24-05249\n原告， :\n诉 :\nACA CAPITAL GROUP LTD., ALFA GLOBAL\nVENTURES LIMITED, ALFONSO GLOBAL\nVENTURES LIMITED, ANTON DEVELOPMENT\nLIMITED, BRAVO LUCK LIMITED, CELESTIAL\nTIDE LIMITED, CHINA GOLDEN SPRING\nGROUP (HONG KONG) LTD., EASTERN PROFIT\nCORPORATION LIMITED, FREEDOM MEDIA\nVENTURES LIMITED, G CLUB INTERNATIONAL\nLIMITED, G CLUB OPERATIONS LLC,\nG FASHION (CA), G FASHION HOLD CO A\nLIMITED, G FASHION HOLD CO B LIMITED, G\nFASHION INTERNATIONAL LIMITED,\nGFASHION MEDIA GROUP INC., G MUSIC LLC,\nGF IP, LLC, GF ITALY, LLC, GFNY, INC.,\nHAMILTON CAPITAL HOLDING LIMITED,\nHAMILTON INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT\nLIMITED, HAMILTON OPPORTUNITY FUND :\n\nSPC, HAORAN HE, HIMALAYA CURRENCY CLEARING PTY LTD., HIMALAYA INTERNATIONAL CLEARING LIMITED, HIMALAYA INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL GROUP LIMITED, HIMALAYA INTERNATIONAL PAYMENTS LIMITED, HIMALAYA INTERNATIONAL RESERVES LIMITED, JOVIAL CENTURY INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, K LEGACY LTD., KARIN MAISTRELLO, LEADING SHINE LIMITED, MAJOR LEAD INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, MEI GUO（郭美）, NEXT TYCOON INVESTMENTS LIMITED, QIANG GUO（郭强）, RULE OF LAW FOUNDATION III, INC.（法治基金三期公司）, RULE OF LAW SOCIETY IV, INC.（法治社会四期公司）, SARACA MEDIA GROUP, INC., SEVEN MISSION GROUP LLC, WILLIAM JE（余建明）, WISE CREATION INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :\n\n被告。\n\n受托人关于中止对抗制诉讼程序并在刑事诉讼程序处理完毕前获得其他救济的动议\n\n: x\n\nLuc A. Despins（吕克·A·德斯平斯），以在 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵，下称“债务人”）第11章案件中指定的第11章受托人（下称“受托人”）身份，由其下述签字律师代表，特此提出本动议（下称“该动议”），请求作出作为证据 1 随本动议一并提交的拟议裁定（下称“拟议裁定”），中止案由为 Despins v. Ngok, et al.（德斯平斯 诉 岳等案），Adv. Proc. No. 24-5273（下称“民事 RICO 诉讼”）以及 Despins v. ACA Capital Group Ltd. et al.（德斯平斯 诉 ACA Capital Group Ltd.等案），Adv. Proc. No. 24-5249（下称“统括另我诉讼”，与民事 RICO 诉讼合称“标的对抗制诉讼”）的对抗制诉讼程序，并处理其他事项，直至 United States District Court for the Southern District of New York（美国纽约南区联邦地区法院，下称“刑事法院”）审理的题为 United States of America v. Ho Wan Kwok, et al.（美利坚合众国 诉 郭文贵等案），Case No. 23-CR-118 (AT) 的刑事案件（下称“刑事案件”）处理完毕。\n初步陈述\n\n1. 2024年2月15日，受托人针对总计约109名被告提起了民事 RICO 诉讼和统括另我诉讼。民事 RICO 诉讼指控债务人及其多名同伙共谋组建、运营并实际运营了一个欺诈性企业，以阻碍债务人的资产落入其债权人之手，并在此过程中实施了多项构成前提罪名的犯罪行为。受托人就民事 RICO 被告2的行为对债权人造成的损害向其索赔。与此同时，统括另我诉讼请求作出确认判决，确认各壳公司及其他实体为债务人的另我（及/或由其享有实益所有权），从而使其资产属于破产财产。2024年2月29日，标的对抗制诉讼签发了传票。受托人目前正在向民事 RICO/另我被告送达传票。\n\n2. 受托人在此时提起民事 RICO 诉讼和统括另我诉讼，除其他原因外，是为了确保其符合根据 United States Code（《美国法典》）第11编（下称“《破产法典》”）提起特定类型权利主张的2024年2月15日法定截止日期（下称“2月15日截止日期”）。除民事 RICO 诉讼和统括另我诉讼外，受托人还在2月15日截止日期当天或临近该日期时提起了约270起其他诉讼。这些其他诉讼大多涉及追回实际或推定欺诈性转让以及未经授权的申请后转让的权利主张。\n\n3. 受托人敏锐地意识到，同时开展如此大量的诉讼可能会给各方当事人和本法院带来行政负担。特别是民事 RICO 诉讼和统括另我诉讼，鉴于其所涉问题的复杂性以及涉及的\n\n2 本初步陈述中未予定义的词首字母大写术语具有本动议其余部分赋予该等术语的含义。\n\n被告人数，可能会对各方当事人及本法院的资源造成特别沉重的负担。出于这些原因，受托人认为，从案件管理的角度来看，暂时中止最近提起的部分诉讼是必要的。\n\n4. 受托人还认为，鉴于债务人刑事案件即将进行的庭审（定于2024年5月20日或前后开始），中止诉讼是有正当理由的。正如本法院所知，债务人已向刑事法院提交了一份重新提起的动议，请求作出命令完全中止本第11章案件，其理由除其他外包括：受托人对民事 RICO 诉讼和统括另我诉讼中涉案主张的追索将干涉其刑事辩护权。3 尽管受托人已对债务人的动议提出异议并认为其缺乏依据，但受托人已告知刑事法院，其将寻求中止民事 RICO 诉讼和统括另我诉讼，以使债务人的主张失去实际意义，并消除对债务人的第11章案件进行全面中止的任何可能性。\n\n5. 基于这些原因以及本文所述的其他原因，受托人认为，由本法院按照拟议裁定中的规定中止标的对抗制诉讼，直至刑事案件庭审结束，符合破产财产的最佳利益。在此中止期间，受托人将能够继续向民事 RICO/另我被告进行送达（以确保他们尽快收到诉讼通知），并保留在通知刑事案件各方当事人的情况下，根据需要寻求禁令救济或其他救济的权利，以防止资产流失或以其他方式保护破产财产。除此以外，标的对抗制诉讼将按照拟议裁定中的规定予以中止。\n\n6. 除了中止标的对抗制诉讼外，受托人还请求作出命令，暂时中止主破产案件中的证言录取，包括但不限于\n\n3 见刑事案件，[ECF No. 218]。对刑事案件诉讼记录条目的引用将表示为“ECF No. [ ]”，而对标的对抗制诉讼或主破产案件诉讼记录条目的引用将表示为“Docket No.”或“Dkt. No.”。\n\n根据 Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure（《联邦破产诉讼规则》）第2004条进行的证言录取。此项中止是必要的，因为受托人希望避免对作为刑事案件证人的当事人进行证言录取的任何可能性、避免以其他方式干涉政府对刑事案件的起诉，或避免给予债务人进一步的理由来支持其关于完全中止其第11章案件的请求。受托人保留在中止期间于通知刑事案件各方当事人的前提下向法院申请许可进行证言录取的权利（如为保护破产财产或确保第11章破产财产的有序管理所必需）。\n\n7. 出于这些原因，且由于所请求的中止完全属于本法院管理其案件审理日程的合理裁量权范围内，受托人谨请求准许本动议，并由本法院签署施加所请求中止的拟议裁定。\n背景\n\n8. 2022年2月15日，债务人启动了上述第11章案件（下称“第11章案件”）。2022年6月15日，破产法院作出了决定备忘录和命令，指示美国受托人指定一名第11章受托人。主案4，[Docket No. 465]。2022年7月8日，破产法院作出了指定受托人的命令。同上，[Docket No. 523]。\n\n9. 2024年1月18日，受托人提交了《根据破产法第108条、第546(a)条及第549条延长受托人提起撤销权诉讼期限的命令动议》[案卷号 2509]，请求将提起撤销权诉讼的截止日期由2024年2月15日延长至2024年8月15日，以便其完成调查。\n\n10. 2024年2月15日，法院作出了《关于部分准予延长截止日期动议的决定备忘录及命令》[案卷号 2921]（简称“延期决定”），\n\n4 关于“主案”的引用是指案卷号 22-50073。\n\n将提起撤销权诉讼的截止日期延长至2024年8月15日，该日期可经通知和听证后进一步延期。\n\n11. 在2月15日截止日期及法院作出延期决定当日或前不久，受托人依据其法定职责，提起了大约270起撤销权诉讼、综合人格混同诉讼以及民事 RICO 诉讼。\n\n12. 综合人格混同诉讼是针对52名被告（简称“人格混同被告”）提起的，旨在请求裁定（其中包括）人格混同被告为债务人的第二自我（alter ego），以及/或者债务人系人格混同被告的实际所有人，因此人格混同被告的财产属于破产财产。\n\n13. 民事 RICO 诉讼是针对57名被告5（简称“民事 RICO 被告”，与人格混同被告合称“民事 RICO/人格混同被告”）提起的。民事 RICO 诉讼包含两项诉由：违反《受勒索者影响和腐败组织法》（Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act，简称“RICO”）以及串谋违反 RICO。实体罪名项和串谋罪名项均是针对全体民事 RICO 被告提起的。\n\n14. 约于2023年3月，大陪审团对债务人、William Je（余建明）及 Yvette Wang（王雁平）（合称“刑事被告”）作出了起诉书，并最终在刑事法院启封。见刑事案件，[ECF 编号 1 及 2]。2024年1月4日，美国联邦政府提交了一份替代起诉书，该起诉书为截至本文件提交之日的有效起诉书（简称“替代起诉书”）。刑事案件，[ECF 编号 215]。\n\n15. 替代起诉书在民事 RICO 诉讼和综合人格混同诉讼中均有讨论。特别是，在民事 RICO 诉讼中，受托人援引并依赖\n\n5 某些实体和/或个人同时为两起标的对抗性诉讼的被告。\n\n刑事案件中的替代起诉书，以说明其中详述的欺诈方案所涉及的大量非法行为。\n\n16. 刑事案件中的替代起诉书讨论了债务人、William Je、Yvette Wang 及其关联实体的各项涉嫌非法行为，其中许多关联实体为民事 RICO 被告和/或人格混同被告。\n\n17. 在刑事案件中，2023年8月30日，债务人提交了《关于中止破产案件命令和令状或请求其他救济的动议》[ECF 编号 129]（简称“第一份中止动议”），请求刑事法院作出命令，中止第11章案件，以及与第11章案件合并审理并涉及债务人的 Genever Holdings Corporation（Genever 控股公司，简称“Genever BVI”）和 Genever Holdings LLC（Genever 控股有限责任公司，简称“Genever US”，与 Genever BVI 合称“Genever 债务人”）的破产案件（简称“Genever 案件”，与第11章案件合称“第11章各案件”）。2023年9月21日，受托人及 Genever 债务人对第一份中止动议提交了答辩意见。刑事案件，[ECF 编号 145]。2023年12月21日，刑事法院驳回了债务人的第一份中止动议。同上，[ECF 编号 204]。\n\n18. 随后，于2024年1月4日，债务人在刑事案件中提交了《关于中止破产案件的重新动议及重新审议动议》（简称“重新中止动议”），请求中止所有三起第11章案件。同上，[ECF 编号 218]。2024年1月19日，受托人与 Genever 债务人对重新中止动议提交了答辩意见。同上，[ECF 编号 234]。在支持第一份中止动议和重新中止动议时，债务人主张第11章各案件中存在涉及其宪法权利并可能损害其在刑事案件中辩护权的问题。重新中止动议目前仍在刑事案件中由刑事法院审理。\n\n19. 刑事案件的庭审预定于2024年5月20日或前后开始。\n\n请求的救济\n\n20. 受托人谨请求法院：(a) 按照拟议命令的规定，中止标的对抗性诉讼直至刑事案件庭审结束，但受托人保留以下权利：(i) 继续向民事 RICO/人格混同被告送达文书，以及 (ii) 在向本法院提出申请并通知刑事案件各方当事人后，在标的对抗性诉讼中寻求保护第11章破产财产所必需的禁令或其他救济；以及 (b) 中止在第11章各案件或相关对抗性诉讼中录取宣誓证言，直至刑事案件庭审结束，但受托人保留在通知刑事案件各方当事人的情况下申请许可录取宣誓证言的权利。\n\n请求救济的依据\n\n21. 毫无争议的是，所有法院均拥有中止其审理的民事案件的固有权力。Landis 诉 N. Am. Co. 案，299 U.S. 248, 254–55 (1936)。在平行刑事诉讼进行期间，“当司法利益似乎需要采取此类行动时，有时应[原告]的请求，……有时应被告方的请求”，法院有权自由裁量中止民事诉讼。United States 诉 Kordel 案，397 U.S. 1, 12 n.27 (1970)。\n\n22. “法院拥有控制其案件排期的固有权力，同时兼顾法院、律师和诉讼当事人的‘时间和精力成本’。”In re Kowalski 案，633 B.R. 822, 827 (Bankr. N.D. Ill. 2021)（引自 Landis 诉 N. Am. Co. 案，299 U.S. at 254）。多家破产法院已中止对抗性诉讼，直至平行刑事案件处置完毕。参见如 In re Julmice 案，458 B.R. 657, 661-62 (Bankr. E.D.N.Y. 2011)（鉴于正在进行的刑事诉讼而中止对抗性诉讼）；In re Kowalski 案，633 B.R. at 829（中止对抗性诉讼“直至 Jan Kowalski 与\n\n债务人被指控串谋侵占银行资金、破产欺诈及隐匿资产等罪名的刑事案件审结”）。\n\n23. 受托人在此请求的中止是适当的，这既有助于管理本法院诉讼的案件量，又能防止对即将开始庭审的债务人未决刑事案件产生任何干扰的可能性。如上所述，受托人最近在本法院提起了270多起对抗性诉讼，包括标的对抗性诉讼。鉴于所涉及的问题和被告人数，同时推进这些对抗性诉讼将给各方当事人和法院带来沉重的行政负担。通过将标的对抗性诉讼中止至刑事案件庭审结束，法院、受托人和所有其他当事人将有必要的时间在向所有被告完成送达后，为诉讼制定有序且高效的排期。\n\n24. 该中止也是适当的，以确保受托人的诉讼不干扰刑事案件，并使债务人关于全面中止第11章各案件的请求失去实际意义（moot）。明确而言，受托人认为债务人的全面中止请求毫无根据且应予驳回；然而，由于全面中止将对第11章破产财产造成极大损害，受托人认为防范此类中止的可能性至关重要，无论其可能性多么微小。为此，鉴于受托人主张的事项与替代起诉书中的指控存在重叠，受托人提议的中止将使债务人关于受托人推进标的对抗性诉讼会干涉其刑事权利的主张失去实际意义。与此同时，破产财产的权利在中止期内受到拟议命令中相关条款的保护，该条款允许受托人寻求禁令救济以防止破产财产流失或以其他方式防范可能对破产财产造成不可挽回损害的行为。\n\n25. 正如破产财产的利益受到所请求中止的保护一样，民事 RICO/人格混同被告的权利和利益也因该中止而得到加强。拟议命令为上述被告提供了额外的时间来审阅标的对抗性诉讼的指控和权利主张，并评估抗辩理由。此外，通过中止诉讼，民事 RICO/人格混同被告将避免在刑事案件开庭审理的同一时期进行标的对抗性诉讼的负担和费用。若民事 RICO/人格混同被告担心其对标的对抗性诉讼的应诉可能会使其在刑事案件的证据或证言方面陷入法律危机，那么作出此处请求的有限中止将消除这种担忧。\n\n26. 最后，在本案情况下，额外请求中止宣誓证言取证程序也是合理的，以避免对刑事案件产生任何干扰的可能性。受托人不希望在可能干扰政府起诉或为债务人支持其全面中止请求提供进一步理由的情况下，无意中对定于在刑事案件中出庭作证的当事人录取宣誓证言。重要的是，受托人将在中止期间保留在必要时向法院申请许可录取宣誓证言的权利（经通知刑事案件各方当事人），以保护破产财产或确保第11章破产财产的有序管理。6\n\n[本页以下部分特意留白。]\n\n6 为免生疑问，拟议命令并不禁止受托人继续提交依据《破产程序规则》第2004条进行证据开示的额外动议，以寻求获准向各方当事人送达调取文件和录取宣誓证言的传票。拟议命令仅适用于受托人在中止期间依据此类传票录取宣誓证言的权利。\n\n据此，基于前述理由，受托人谨请求法院作出拟议命令，准予此处请求的救济。\n\n日期：2024年3月4日\n\n签署：/s/ Nicholas A. Bassett\nDouglass Barron（特别出庭代理申请获准）\nPAUL HASTINGS LLP（普衡律师事务所）\n200 Park Avenue\nNew York, New York 10166\n(212) 318-6079\ndouglassbarron@paulhastings.com\n\n以及\n\nNicholas A. Bassett（特别出庭代理申请获准）\nPAUL HASTINGS LLP（普衡律师事务所）\n2050 M Street NW\nWashington, D.C., 20036\n(202) 551-1902\nnicholasbassett@paulhastings.com\n\n以及\n\nDouglas S. Skalka (ct00616)\nPatrick R. Linsey (ct29437)\nNEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C.\n195 Church Street, 13th Floor\nNew Haven, Connecticut 06510\n(203) 781-2847\ndskalka@npmlaw.com\nplinsey@npmlaw.com\n\n第11章受托人律师\n\n附件 1\n\n拟议命令\n\n美国破产法院\n康涅狄格区\n布里奇波特分院\n\n-------------------------------------------------------------------- x\n关于： : 第11章\n:\nHo Wan Kwok（郭文贵）等， : 案件号 22-50073 (JAM)\n:\n债务人。 : （合并审理）\n-------------------------------------------------------------------- x\n\nLUC A. DESPINS（卢克·A·德斯平斯），第11章受托人，\n原告，\n诉\nHING CHI NGOK（岳庆芝）、MEI GUO（郭美）、QIANG GUO（郭强）、WILLIAM JE（余建明）、YVETTE WANG（王雁平）、XUEBING WANG（王雪冰）、MAX KRASNER、CHUNGUANG HAN（韩春光）、YONGBING ZHANG（张咏冰）、AARON MITCHELL、GTV MEDIA GROUP, INC.（GTV传媒集团有限公司）、SARACA MEDIA GROUP, INC.（萨拉卡传媒集团有限公司）、HUDSON DIAMOND NY LLC、G-CLUB US OPERATIONS LLC、BRAVO LUCK LIMITED（荣胜有限公司）、GREENWICH LAND LLC、CRANE ADVISORY GROUP L.L.C.、G-CLUB OPERATIONS LLC、GS SECURITY SOLUTIONS INC.、GYPSY MEI FOOD SERVICES LLC、HCHK TECHNOLOGIES INC.、LEXINGTON PROPERTY AND STAFFING、HAMILTON OPPORTUNITY FUND SPC、TAURUS FUND LLC、TAURUS MANAGEMENT LLC、LEADING SHINE NY LTD.、ACA CAPITAL GROUP LIMITED、RULE OF LAW FOUNDATION III, INC.（法治基金三号公司）、RULE OF LAW SOCIETY IV, INC.（法治社会四号公司）、HAMILTON PE FUND SP、HAMILTON DIGITAL ASSETS FUND SP、HIMALAYA CURRENCY CLEARING PTY. LTD（喜马拉雅货币清算有限责任公司）、HIMALAYA INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL GROUP LIMITED（喜马拉雅国际金融集团有限公司）、HOLY CITY HONG KONG VENTURES, LTD.、VICTOR CERDA、ANA C. IZQUIERDO-HENN、HAITHAM KHALED、JESSICA MASTROGIOVANNI、ALEX HADJICHARALAMBOUS、BEILE LI（李北乐）、ANTHONY DIBATTISTA、GLADYS CHOW、SCOTT BARNETT、HAORAN HE（何浩然）、HSIN SHIH YU、LIMARIE REYES MOLINARIS、NICHOLAS SAVIO、QIDONG XIA（夏启东）、YAN CHUN LIU（刘艳春）、GETTR USA, INC.（盖特美国公司）、G CLUB INTERNATIONAL LIMITED（G俱乐部国际有限公司）、GNEWS MEDIA GROUP INC.、HIMALAYA INTERNATIONAL CLEARING LTD.（喜马拉雅国际清算有限公司）、HUDSON DIAMOND HOLDINGS LLC、LAWALL & MITCHELL, LLC、O.S.C. ORBIT SERVICE COMPANY LLC 以及 SAVIO LAW LLC，\n被告。\n对抗性诉讼案号：24-05273\n\n1 本等第11章案件中的债务人为 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵，又名 Guo Wengui、Miles Guo、Miles Kwok，以及诸多其他化名）（税务识别号后四位：9595）、Genever Holdings LLC（税务识别号后四位：8202）和 Genever Holdings Corporation。受托人、Genever Holdings LLC 及 Genever Holdings Corporation 的邮政地址为 Paul Hastings LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166 转交 Luc A. Despins，作为 Ho Wan Kwok 破产财产的受托人（仅用于接收通知和通讯）。\n\nLUC A. DESPINS，第11章受托人，\n原告，\n诉\nACA CAPITAL GROUP LTD.、ALFA GLOBAL VENTURES LIMITED、ALFONSO GLOBAL VENTURES LIMITED、ANTON DEVELOPMENT LIMITED（安东发展有限公司）、BRAVO LUCK LIMITED（荣胜有限公司）、CELESTIAL TIDE LIMITED、CHINA GOLDEN SPRING GROUP (HONG KONG) LTD.（中国金泉集团（香港）有限公司）、EASTERN PROFIT CORPORATION LIMITED（东方丰泰有限公司）、FREEDOM MEDIA VENTURES LIMITED、G CLUB INTERNATIONAL LIMITED（G俱乐部国际有限公司）、G CLUB OPERATIONS LLC、G FASHION (CA)、G FASHION HOLD CO A LIMITED、G FASHION HOLD CO B LIMITED、G FASHION INTERNATIONAL LIMITED、GFASHION MEDIA GROUP INC.、G MUSIC LLC、GF IP, LLC、GF ITALY, LLC、GFNY, INC.、HAMILTON CAPITAL HOLDING LIMITED、HAMILTON INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED、HAMILTON OPPORTUNITY FUND SPC、HAORAN HE（何浩然）、HIMALAYA CURRENCY CLEARING PTY LTD.、HIMALAYA INTERNATIONAL CLEARING LIMITED、HIMALAYA INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL GROUP LIMITED、HIMALAYA INTERNATIONAL PAYMENTS LIMITED、HIMALAYA INTERNATIONAL RESERVES LIMITED、JOVIAL CENTURY INTERNATIONAL LIMITED、K LEGACY LTD.、KARIN MAISTRELLO、LEADING SHINE LIMITED、MAJOR LEAD INTERNATIONAL LIMITED、MEI GUO（郭美）、NEXT TYCOON INVESTMENTS LIMITED、QIANG GUO（郭强）、RULE OF LAW FOUNDATION III, INC.、RULE OF LAW SOCIETY IV, INC.、SARACA MEDIA GROUP, INC.、SEVEN MISSION GROUP LLC、WILLIAM JE（余建明）、WISE CREATION INTERNATIONAL LIMITED，\n被告。\n对抗性诉讼案号：24-05249\n\n[拟定] 在刑事诉讼终结前中止对抗性诉讼并给予其他救济的命令\n\n根据 Luc A. Despins 以在 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵）（“债务人”）的第11章案件中获任命的第11章受托人（“受托人”）身份提出的动议（“动议”）2，该动议依据《美国法典》第11篇（“《破产法典》”）第105(a)条、《联邦破产程序规则》（“《破产规则》”）第7016条以及《康涅狄格区破产程序地方规则》（“《地方破产规则》”）第7016-1条，请求作出命令（本“命令”），在债务人的刑事审判终结前中止第24-5249号对抗性诉讼（“综合另我对抗性诉讼”）和第24-5273号对抗性诉讼（“民事RICO对抗性诉讼”，并与综合另我对抗性诉讼合称“标的对抗性诉讼”）并处理其他事项；且本法院根据 28 U.S.C. §§ 157 和 1334 以及 United States District Court for the District of Connecticut（美国康涅狄格区联邦地方法院）的《移送常设命令》（Standing Order of Reference）对审理动议及其请求的救济享有管辖权；\n\n2 本命令中使用但未另行定义的词首大写术语具有动议中赋予它们的涵义。\n\n且审理动议及其请求的救济依据 28 U.S.C. § 157(b) 属于核心程序；且根据 28 U.S.C. §§ 1408 和 1409 本法院为适当地点；且本法院认定动议中请求的救济符合债务人的第11章破产财产、其债权人以及所有利害关系方的最大利益；且在具体情况下已就动议发出了正当且充分的通知；且看似无需再发出其他或进一步的通知；以及基于本法院此前进行的所有程序；且对本文所请求救济的任何异议均已被撤回或在实体上被驳回；经审慎研议并显示有充分理由，特此命令：\n\n1. 动议按本文规定予以准予。\n\n2. 在下文第5段的规限下，标的对抗性诉讼特此中止，直至在 United States District Court for the Southern District of New York（美国纽约南区联邦地方法院）（“刑事法院”）审理的案名为 United States of America v. Ho Wan Kwok, et al.、案号为 23-CR-118 (AT) 的案件（“刑事案件”）中的刑事审判（“刑事审判”）终结为止，该审判目前定于2024年5月20日开庭。\n\n3. 刑事审判终结后，受托人应同时在本法院和刑事法院提交恢复标的对抗性诉讼的通知，自提交上述通知之日起中止终止（自本命令作出之日起至该等终止之日止的期间为“中止期”）。\n\n4. 在下文第5段的规限下，标的对抗性诉讼中的一切诉讼活动在中止期内均应予以中止和暂停，包括但不限于当事人对相关起诉状作出答辩或以其他方式回应的期限。在中止期内，不得提交或送达任何答辩状或其他回应，包括但不限于依据《联邦破产程序规则》第7012条作出的答辩或回应。中止期终结后，在法院进一步命令的规限下，所有已获送达相关传票和起诉状的被告应自中止期终止之日起有30天时间对该起诉状作出答辩或以其他方式回应。\n\n5. 尽管本文有任何相反规定：(a) 受托人在综合另我对抗性诉讼中针对被告 K Legacy, Ltd. 以及针对作为 K Legacy, Ltd. 名义所有人的 Qiang Guo（郭强）提出的主张，不受本命令的中止或以其他方式影响；以及 (b) 在中止期内应允许受托人 (i) 开展工作以向标的对抗性诉讼的被告送达传票和起诉状，以及 (ii) 在向本法院提出动议并在刑事法院就该动议提交通知后，在标的对抗性诉讼中寻求禁令救济或其他救济以防止对破产财产造成不可挽回的损害，例如为防止潜在破产财产遭到挥霍所必需的救济。\n\n6. 除法院另有命令外，在中止期内，不得在破产主案中（包括但不限于依据《联邦破产程序规则》第2004条传票进行的）或在任何对抗性诉讼中（包括但不限于标的对抗性诉讼）进行任何宣誓证词陈述。在受托人认为中止期内有必要进行宣誓证词陈述以保护破产财产或确保第11章破产财产的有序管理的前提下，受托人可在向刑事案件各方当事人发出通知后向本法院提出动议，请求获准进行该等宣誓证词陈述。\n\n7. 本法院保留对因执行本命令而产生或与之相关的一切事项的管辖权。\n\n8. 本命令一经作出即刻生效。","key_entities":["Je","RICO","Himalaya","Kwok","Guo","Despins","Ho Wan Kwok","William Je","Paul Hastings","Saraca","Miles Guo","Torres","HCHK","GTV","GETTR","Luc Despins","Analisa Torres"],"ecf_references":[{"doc_number":129,"court":"SDNY"},{"doc_number":145,"court":"SDNY"},{"doc_number":204,"court":"SDNY"},{"doc_number":215,"court":"SDNY"},{"doc_number":218,"court":"SDNY"},{"doc_number":234,"court":"SDNY"},{"doc_number":2975,"court":"SDNY"}],"word_count":5229,"status":"published","published_at":"2024-03-04 00:00:00","created_at":"2024-03-04","updated_at":"2026-08-23 08:06:17"}