{"id":"court_sdny_597_0","court":"SDNY","case_no":"23-cr-00118","doc_number":597,"sub_number":0,"doc_type":"ORDER","filed_date":"2025-04-04","title":"UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK \\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\","summary_zh":"第三方财产权利申诉状——美国诉 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵 / Guo Wengui / Miles Guo）案，SDNY 1:23-cr-00118 ECF #597（2025-04-04 提交）。G Club Operations, LLC（由独立管理人 FFP (BVI) Ltd. 的董事 Andrew Childe 代表并宣誓核实）依据联邦刑事诉讼规则32.2(c)及21 U.S.C. § 853(n)，就一部分已被没收、源自 G Club 会员缴费的资产向法院提出第三方权利申诉，主张该部分财产应从没收令中排除、返还会员，并请求就争议事项举行听证；若申诉被驳回则请求获得相应补偿。","summary_en":"Third-party petition for return of forfeited property — United States v. Ho Wan Kwok (Miles Guo / Guo Wengui), SDNY 1:23-cr-00118, ECF #597 (filed 2025-04-04). G Club Operations, LLC, represented and verified under oath by Andrew Childe of its court-recognized independent manager FFP (BVI) Ltd., petitions under Fed. R. Crim. P. 32.2(c) and 21 U.S.C. § 853(n) to have a subset of forfeited assets — traced to G Club membership payments — excluded from the forfeiture order and returned to members, requesting a hearing on any disputed issues and, in the alternative, compensation for its interest.","body_en":"# **UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK**\n\n**\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_**\n\n| UNITED STATES OF AMERICA                                 | : |                          |\n|----------------------------------------------------------|---|--------------------------|\n|                                                          | : |                          |\n| v.                                                       | : | VERIFIED PETITION UNDER  |\n|                                                          | : | FED R. CRIM. P. 32.2 FOR |\n| YVETTE WANG, a/k/a \"YANPING\",                            | : | ADJUDICATION OF          |\n| a/k/a \"Y\"<br>__________________________________________: | : | PETITIONER'S RIGHT TO    |\n|                                                          | : | SPECIFIC PROPERTY        |\n|                                                          |   |                          |\n\n: Case No. 23-cr-118 (AT)\n\nG CLUB OPERATIONS, LLC (\"G Club\" or \"Petitioner\") , by and through its undersigned counsel, Green & Sklarz LLC, pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 853(n) and Fed. R. Crim. P. 32.2(c), hereby respectfully petition the Court for a determination of the Petitioner's interest in the specific property identified on Exhibit 1 (the \"Seized G Club Assets\") hereto, which is a subset of the property identified in the *Consent Preliminary Order of Forfeiture as to Specific Property/Money Judgment* (ECF No. 488 the \"Forfeiture Order\"), and as further described in the *Notice of Forfeiture*, attached hereto as Exhibit 2. In support hereof, Petitioner submit as follows:\n\n## **The Petitioner and Connections to this Action**\n\n1. G Club is a limited liability company organized under the laws of Puerto Rico.\n\n2. G Club operated out of an office in Puerto Rico, with staff based in Puerto Rico who worked to promote G Club's services.\n\n3. G Club operated \"G|CLUBS,\" a luxury concierge and membership program that customers – known as \"members\" – could join. To become a member, a prospective member signed a membership agreement and issued payments. G Club provided access to a concierge service center with Mandarin and English bilingual support. G Club has thousands of members located throughout the world. Miles Guo a/k/a Ho Wan Kwok (\"Kwok\") was a spokesperson for G Club.\n\n4. The ultimate beneficial owner of G Club is Haoran He.\n\n5. On March 15, 2023, Defendant Yvette Wang (\"Defendant\") was arrested along with her co-defendant, Kwok, based on charges, among others, of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, 18 U.S.C. § 371, in connection with false representations made to prospective investors in GTV, the Himalaya Farm Alliance organizations, and members of G Club. Petitioner was not charged in the indictment.\n\n6. Shortly thereafter, on June 1, 2023, an independent fiduciary, FFP (BVI), Ltd. (\"FFP\"), an international fiduciary services and consulting firm (the \"Independent Manager\"), began managing the Petitioner. FFP has a mailing address of Post Office Box 2429, Road Town, Tortola VG1110, British Virgin Islands. Andrew Childe is the FFP director responsible for this engagement. A copy of Mr. Childe's C.V. is attached hereto Exhibit 3.\n\n7. On May 3, 2024, Defendant pled guilty, pursuant to a plea agreement, to Superseding Information S4 23 Cr. 118 (AT) (the \"Superseding Information\"), which charged her in two counts with participating in a wire fraud conspiracy and a money laundering conspiracy, each in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. On January 6, 2025, Defendant was sentenced to 10 years in prison.\n\n8. On July 16, 2024, Kwok was convicted at trial and is awaiting sentencing.\n\n### **The Seized G Club Assets Originated from G Club's Members**\n\n9. The Seized G Club Assets reflect payments originating from G Club's members for their membership. Specifically, the Seized G Club Assets identified in Exhibit 1 all reflect direct payments from members of G Club or otherwise are traceable to G Club membership payments.\n\nThus, Petitioner is the proper owner of these Seized G Club Assets, *for purposes of ensuring the return of funds to G Club members, as further described below*.\n\n## **Petitioner Was a Victim of Defendant**\n\n10. G Club was not a defendant in this action and, to the contrary, was managed by individuals in Puerto Rico who complied with government process and otherwise cooperated with the Government, providing documents in response to subpoenas and other demands. And since June 1, 2023, G Club has been managed by the Independent Manager who endeavored to cooperate with law enforcement by responding to requests and providing information. Through counsel, G Club advised the Government of the appointment of an Independent Manager *before* the Independent Manager was appointed. G Club further discussed the membership funds and accounts at issue with the Government.\n\n11. As described by the Government, G Club members were victims of Defendant's allegedly fraudulent activities and G Club, in turn, was equally a victim:\n\n> From at least in or about October 2020 through at least in or about March 2023, WANG and her co-conspirators fraudulently obtained more than approximately \\$250 million in victim funds through G|CLUBS... But, as WANG well knew, victims never received stock and instead G|CLUBS funds were used—often at WANG's direction—to purchase, among other things, a 50,000 square foot New Jersey mansion; various furniture and decorative items including, among other items, Chinese and Persian rugs worth approximately \\$978,000, a \\$62,000 television, and a \\$53,000 fireplace log cradle holder; a \\$900,000 Lamborghini, and a custombuilt Bugatti sports car for approximately \\$4.4 million.\n\n*See Associate Of Miles Guo, Yvette Wang, Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For Her Role In An*\n\n*Over \\$1 Billion Dollar Fraud Conspiracy*, Available at: [http](http)[sdny/pr/associate-miles-guo-yvette-wang-sentenced-10-years-prison-her-role-over-1-billion](http) (last visited Feb. 28, 2025).\n\n12. As set forth in the Government's Sentencing Memorandum, Defendant diverted\n\nG Club member funds:\n\nBut G|CLUBS money was not used to fund a media company, or even to fund any real member benefits. Rather, G|CLUBS money was used to purchase luxury assets, fancy sports cars, and a literal mansion for the Guo family. Wang was deeply involved in G|CLUBS and acted as its *de facto* CEO. She directed million-dollar money transfers, million-dollar luxury purchases, and all the time knew this membership club was no more than a smoke screen to conceal the same fraud tricks as the GTV private placement and the Farm Loan Program—an offering of GTV stock.\n\nGovernment Sentencing Memorandum at 16, ECF No. 476.\n\n13. Petitioner, as a corporate entity, was not aware of the circumstances leading up to the arrest and guilty plea of Defendant.\n\n14. Petitioner, through its Independent Manager and since that Independent Manager's appointment, refrained from accepting any more membership payments (or members) until the issues alleged in the indictment were resolved and where members requested refunds, proceeded to authorize the return of those refunds. The Independent Manager further endeavored to trace all assets to ensure that all assets were preserved.\n\n## **Defendant Cannot Have a Property Interest in Member Funds to Consent to Forfeiture**\n\n15. Under no circumstances can Defendant assert any property interest in funds that are alleged to have originated with victims and are alleged to be part of a criminal endeavor. As such, Defendant could not have properly consented to the forfeiture of the Seized G Club Assets. With respect to all assets of G Club, inclusive of the Seized G Club Assets, the proper owner of those assets is G Club as an innocent third party for the benefit of its members. Alternatively, the funds would belong to the Government, but never to Defendant.\n\n16. First, Petitioner is an innocent third party pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 853(n). Any third party \"asserting a legal interest in property which has been ordered forfeited to the United States pursuant to this section may ... petition the court for a hearing to adjudicate the validity of his alleged interest in the property.\" 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)(2). The petition, which is sworn and signed by the Petitioner, \"shall set forth the nature and extent of the petitioner's right, title, or interest in the property, the time and circumstances of the petitioner's acquisition of the right, title, or interest in the property, any additional facts supporting the petitioner's claim, and the relief sought.\" *Id.* § 853(n)(3).\n\n17. Here, G Club operated through individuals in Puerto Rico who worked to sell membership benefits and provide services to its members unaware of any scheme by Defendant. However, Defendant is alleged to have misappropriated and has since signed a plea deal in respect of those allegations relating to member funds. Therefore, the proceeds of the Seized G Club Assets should be returned to G Club for distribution to its members – *subject to Government oversight and approval*.\n\n18. Currently, G Club exists solely for the purposes of (a) managing litigation; (b) cooperating with Government requests; (c) winding down operations; and (d) attempting to recover funds for the benefit of members. Since FFP became the Independent Manager, G Club has neither accepted funds from members nor carried out material business operations other than as set forth above.\n\n19. G Club files this claim because it is the only proper entity with an interest in the funds paid by its members. More specifically, those funds originated from more than 8,000 members – and not from Defendant's (or Kwok's) personal assets. As an entity which operated\n\n5\n\nunder the good faith belief that it was a legitimate business, with an Independent Manager, G Club intends to wind down operations and return funds to its members.\n\n20. Second, in the event this Court determines that all assets of G Club constitute fraud proceeds[1](#page-5-0) then the only other proper party is the Government, which will preserve funds for the member victims. Pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 853(c), \"[a]ll right, title, and interest and property [subject to criminal forfeiture] vests in the United States upon the commission of the act giving rise to forfeiture.\" 21 U.S.C. § 853(c). In other words, G Club funds cannot be converted into assets of Defendant, despite her consent to the preliminary order of forfeiture.\n\n21. Additionally, the Government has indicated that it intends to seek forfeiture of additional G Club assets. *See* Letter Dated March 18, 2025, from Department of Justice at 3-4 attached hereto as Exhibit 4.\n\n22. While not specifically at issue in this Petition, it appears that Kwok, or by extension the chapter 11 trustee (the \"Trustee\") appointed in the bankruptcy case that Kwok filed in Bridgeport Connecticut, *In re Ho Wan Kwok,* Case No. 22-50073 (Bankr. D. Conn. Feb. 15, 2022) (the \"Kwok Bankruptcy Case\"), cannot claim an interest in the Seized G Club Assets, or any other assets under jurisdiction of this Court. 21 U.S.C § 853(l);[2](#page-5-1) see *Sweet v. United States (In re VPH Pharmacy, Inc.)*, No. 18-11280, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 124224, at \\*6 (E.D. Mich. July 25, 2018) (\"Further, district courts, not bankruptcy courts, have original and exclusive jurisdiction over any action for the recovery or enforcement of any forfeiture.\"); *United States v. DeMiro*, 446 B.R. 804, 808 (E.D. Mich. 2011) (granting motion for mandatory withdrawal as to \"all matters\n\n<span id=\"page-5-0\"></span><sup>1</sup> It must be noted, however, that not all members believe G Club was part of Defendant's and/or Kwok's fraudulent schemes as they did receive some benefits from G Club.\n\n<span id=\"page-5-1\"></span><sup>2</sup> \"The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction to enter orders as provided in this section without regard to the location of any property which may be subject to forfeiture under this section, or which has been ordered forfeited under this section.\" 21 U.S.C § 853(l).\n\npertaining to the seizure, forfeiture and distribution of the Forfeited Assets for exclusive determination and adjudication by the Court in the criminal case\").[3](#page-6-0) Petitioner notes that the conduct leading to the Forfeiture Order and the Seized G Club Assets predates the commencement of the Kwok Bankruptcy Case.\n\n23. To the extent the Court determines that all proceeds are fraud proceeds (note, not all G Club members believe to be the case), Petitioner nonetheless underscores that FFP, as the Independent Manager, is prepared to assist the Government in tracing the assets that belong to members and will assist the Government to facilitate the return of those funds to G Club members and does not object to Government oversight of all further activities as it winds down operations. Nor does G Club object to the proposed administrator for the remission process requested by the Government, a process with which FFP can assist. *See* ECF No. 493.\n\n#### **Petitioner Has Filed a Timely Challenge to Forfeiture**\n\n24. Petitioner has timely filed this petition seeking return of the Seized G Club Assets to Petitioner as an innocent third party pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 853(n).\n\n25. On or about February 10, 2025, Petitioner received the Notice of Forfeiture, which states: \"Any person, other than the defendant(s) in this case, claiming interest in the forfeited property must file an ancillary petition within 60 days of the first date of publication (February 06, 2025) of this Notice on this official government internet web site, pursuant to Rule 32.2 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)(1).\" Notice of Forfeiture at 7.\n\n26. Petitioner has thus timely filed this petition within 60 days of notice.\n\n<span id=\"page-6-0\"></span><sup>3</sup> The Trustee in the Kwok Bankruptcy Case is currently pursuing various adversary proceedings related to G Club and their related professionals. *See e.g., Despins, Luc A., Chapter 11 Trustee v. ACA Capital Group Ltd. et al*., Adv. Proc. No. 5:24-ap-05249 (Bankr. D. Conn.) (seeking a judgment that G Club and other entities are alter egos of Kwok); *Despins v. FFP (BVI) Limited*, Adv. Proc. No. 5:24-ap-0506 (Bankr. D. Conn.)<sup>3</sup> (claiming that payments made by G Club to FFP for services rendered should be \"clawed back\" and paid to creditors of the Kwok Bankruptcy Estate and not alleged victims of G Club).\n\nWHEREFORE, Petitioner respectfully requests and petitions this Court:\n\nA. to amend the Forfeiture Order to exclude the Property in which Petitioner has a right, title, and interest as an innocent third party or superior interest;\n\nB. for a hearing pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)(3) on any disputed matters;\n\nC. in the alternative, and in the event that this Petition is denied, Petitioner hereby respectfully asserts a claim for compensation for its interest in the Seized G Club Property; and\n\nD. for such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.\n\nDate: April 4, 2025 THE PETITIONER\n\nG CLUB OPERATIONS, LLC\n\nBy: /s/ Jeffrey M. Sklarz Jeffrey M. Sklarz Green & Sklarz LLC One Audubon Street, Third Floor New Haven, CT 06511 Tel: (203) 285-8545 Fax: (203) 823-4546 [jsklarz@gs-lawfirm.com](mailto:jsklarz@gs-lawfirm.com)\n\n### **VERIFICATION**\n\nI, Andrew Childe, being over the age of 18 years and believing in the sanctity of an oath, hereby state the following under the penalty of perjury:\n\n1. I am a Director of FFP (BVI), Ltd. (\"FFP\").\n\n2. FFP was retained on or about June 1, 2023 as the been retained as the independent manager of G Club Operations, LLC (\"G Club\").\n\n3. I have personal knowledge or inquiry knowledge of the information set forth in the above *Verified Petition under Fed. R. Crim. P. 32.2 for Adjudication of Petitioners' Right to Specific Property* (the \"Petition\").\n\n4. I am authorized to submit the Petition on behalf of G Club.\n\n5. I attest and declare under penalty of perjury that my petition is not frivolous and the information provided in support of my petition is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.\n\n6. On behalf of G Club, I have retained the above-named attorney and firm (Jeffrey M. Sklarz, Esq. of Green & Sklarz LLC) who has authority to represent G Club in this matter. I have fully reviewed the foregoing petition and found that its contents are truthful and accurate in every respect. I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing information is true and correct.\n\nDate: April 4, 2025 \\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\n\nA.I. Qili\n\nAndrew Childe","body_zh":"UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK（美国纽约南区联邦地区法院）\n\n__________________________________________\n\nUNITED STATES OF AMERICA（美利坚合众国）\n:\nv.\n: 根据《联邦刑事诉讼规则》第 32.2 条关于裁定请愿人对特定财产权利之经核实的请愿书\nYVETTE WANG（王雁平），又名“YANPING”，又名“Y”\n__________________________________________:\n: 案号：23-cr-118 (AT)\n\nG CLUB OPERATIONS, LLC（以下简称“G Club”或“请愿人”），由其下签代理律师事务所 Green & Sklarz LLC 代为提出，依据 21 U.S.C. § 853(n) 及《联邦刑事诉讼规则》第 32.2(c) 条，特此恭敬地提请法院裁定请愿人对本请愿书附件 1 所载之特定财产（以下简称“被扣押的 G Club 资产”）之权益，该财产属于《关于特定财产/金钱判决的同意初步没收令》（ECF No. 488，以下简称“没收令”）中所指财产的一部分，并如本请愿书附件 2 所附之《没收通知》中作出的进一步描述。为支持本请愿书，请愿人陈述如下：\n\n请愿人及与本案的关联\n\n1. G Club 是一家依据 Puerto Rico（波多黎各）法律设立的有限责任公司。\n\n2. G Club 在波多黎各设有办公室并开展运营，雇佣常驻波多黎各的员工致力于推广 G Club 的服务。\n\n3. G Club 运营名为“G|CLUBS”的高端礼宾及会员计划，客户（称为“会员”）可以加入该计划。欲成为会员，准会员需签署会员协议并支付款项。G Club 提供了支持普通话和英语双语的礼宾服务中心服务。G Club 拥有数千名遍布世界各地的会员。Miles Guo 又名 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵，以下简称“郭文贵”）曾担任 G Club 的代言人。\n\n4. G Club 的最终实益拥有人为 Haoran He（何浩然）。\n\n5. 2023年3月15日，被告 Yvette Wang（王雁平，以下简称“被告”）与其同案被告郭文贵一同被捕，指控罪名包括与对 GTV、Himalaya Farm Alliance（喜马拉雅农场联盟）组织之潜在投资者以及 G Club 会员作出虚假陈述有关的共谋电汇欺诈和共谋洗钱，违反 18 U.S.C. § 371。请愿人未在起诉书中受到指控。\n\n6. 此后不久，于2023年6月1日，一家国际受托人服务及咨询公司——独立受托人 FFP (BVI), Ltd.（以下简称“FFP”或“独立管理人”）开始对请愿人进行管理。FFP 的邮寄地址为 Post Office Box 2429, Road Town, Tortola VG1110, British Virgin Islands（英属维尔京群岛托尔托拉罗德城邮政信箱 2429，邮编 VG1110）。Andrew Childe（安德鲁·柴尔德）是负责该委任事务的 FFP 董事。柴尔德先生的简历副本附于本请愿书附件 3。\n\n7. 2024年5月3日，被告根据认罪协议，对替代起诉书 S4 23 Cr. 118 (AT)（以下简称“替代起诉书”）认罪，该起诉书指控其犯有参与共谋电汇欺诈和共谋洗钱两项罪名，每项罪名均违反 18 U.S.C. § 371。2025年1月6日，被告被判处 10 年监禁。\n\n8. 2024年7月16日，郭文贵在审判中被定罪，目前正等待判决。\n\n被扣押的 G Club 资产来源于 G Club 会员\n\n9. 被扣押的 G Club 资产反映了 G Club 会员为获取其会员资格所支付的款项。具体而言，附件 1 中列明的被扣押的 G Club 资产均反映了 G Club 会员的直接付款，或在其他方面可追溯至 G Club 会员会费款项。\n\n因此，出于确保将资金退还给 G Club 会员之目的（如下文进一步详述），请愿人是被扣押的 G Club 资产的正当所有权人。\n\n请愿人是被告的受害者\n\n10. G Club 在本案中并非被告，相反，它由常驻波多黎各的人员管理，这些人遵守政府法律程序并在其他方面配合政府，响应传票及其他要求提供文件。且自2023年6月1日以来，G Club 一直由独立管理人管理，该管理人努力通过响应请求和提供信息来配合执法部门。通过代理律师，G Club 在独立管理人被任命之前，即已将任命独立管理人的事宜告知政府。G Club 还与政府进一步讨论了涉案的会员资金和账户问题。\n\n11. 正如政府所述，G Club 会员是被告涉嫌欺诈活动的受害者，而 G Club 反过来同样也是受害者：\n\n从至少约2020年10月起至至少约2023年3月止，王雁平及其共谋者通过 G|CLUBS 以欺诈手段获取了超过约 2.5 亿美元的受害者资金……但是，正如王雁平心知肚明的那样，受害者从未获得股票，相反，G|CLUBS 的资金被用于——通常是在王雁平的指示下——购买（除其他项目外）一座位于 New Jersey（新泽西州）占地 50,000 平方英尺的豪宅；各种家具和装饰品，包括价值约 978,000 美元的中国和波斯地毯、一台 62,000 美元的电视机和一套 53,000 美元的壁炉柴火架等；一辆 900,000 美元的 Lamborghini（兰博基尼），以及一辆价值约 440 万美元的定制 Bugatti（布加迪）跑车。\n\n参见《Miles Guo 郭文贵同伙 Yvette Wang 王雁平因参与超过 10 亿美元欺诈共谋被判处 10 年监禁》，网址：http/sdny/pr/associate-miles-guo-yvette-wang-sentenced-10-years-prison-her-role-over-1-billion（最后访问日期：2025年2月28日）。\n\n12. 正如政府量刑意见书中所阐述，被告挪用了 G Club 会员资金：\n\n但 G|CLUBS 的资金并没有用于资助一家媒体公司，甚至没有用于资助任何真正的会员福利。相反，G|CLUBS 的资金被用来为郭氏家族购买奢华资产、高档跑车以及一座名副其实的豪宅。王雁平深度卷入 G|CLUBS 并充当其实质上的首席执行官。她指挥了数百万美元的资金转移、数百万美元的奢侈品采购，并且始终清楚该会员俱乐部不过是一道烟幕弹，用于掩盖与 GTV 私募配售和农场贷款计划相同的欺诈伎俩——即提供 GTV 股票。\n\n政府量刑意见书第 16 页，ECF No. 476。\n\n13. 请愿人作为一个公司实体，对导致被告被捕及认罪答辩的相关情况并不知情。\n\n14. 请愿人通过其独立管理人，且自该独立管理人获任命以来，已暂停接受任何新的会员付款（或会员），直至起诉书中所指控的问题得到解决；并且在会员要求退款时，着手批准退还这些款项。独立管理人还努力追踪所有资产，以确保所有资产得到保全。\n\n被告对会员资金不享有可同意没收的财产权益\n\n15. 在任何情况下，被告都不能对据称来源于受害者且据称属于犯罪企图一部分的资金主张任何财产权益。因此，被告不可能合法同意没收被扣押的 G Club 资产。关于 G Club 的所有资产（包括被扣押的 G Club 资产），这些资产的正当所有权人应是作为无辜第三方的 G Club，并为会员的利益持有。或者，这些资金应属于政府，但绝不会属于被告。\n\n16. 首先，依据 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)，请愿人属于无辜第三方。任何第三方“如果对依据本条已被下令没收给美国的财产主张合法权益，可以……提请法院举行听证会，以裁定其对该财产所主张权益的有效性。”21 U.S.C. § 853(n)(2)。该请愿书由请愿人宣誓并签署，“应载明请愿人对该财产之权利、所有权或权益的性质和范围，请愿人取得该财产之权利、所有权或权益的时间和具体情况，支持请愿人主张的任何补充事实，以及所请求的救济。”同上，§ 853(n)(3)。\n\n17. 在本案中，G Club 是通过在波多黎各的人员进行运营的，这些人员致力于销售会员福利并向其会员提供服务，对被告的任何计划毫不知情。然而，据称被告挪用了会员资金，并且此后已就涉及这些会员资金的指控签署了认罪协议。因此，被扣押的 G Club 资产的收益应当退还给 G Club 以分配给其会员——但须接受政府的监督和批准。\n\n18. 目前，G Club 的存在仅出于以下目的：(a) 管理诉讼；(b) 配合政府的要求；(c) 开展业务清算；以及 (d) 设法为会员的利益追回资金。自 FFP 担任独立管理人以来，G Club 既未接受会员资金，除上述内容外也未开展重大实质性业务运营。\n\n19. G Club 提起此主张，是因为它是唯一对会员支付的资金享有权益的正当实体。更具体而言，这些资金来源于 8,000 多名会员——而非被告（或郭文贵）的个人资产。作为一个在善意相信自身为合法企业的前提下运营的实体，并在独立管理人的管理下，G Club 打算清算业务并将资金退还给其会员。\n\n20. 其次，假若本法院认定 G Club 的所有资产均构成欺诈收益1，则唯一其他正当当事方便是政府，由政府为会员受害者保全资金。依据 21 U.S.C. § 853(c)，“[应受刑事没收的]财产的一切权利、所有权和权益，自产生没收事由的行为发生时起即归属于美国。”21 U.S.C. § 853(c)。换言之，尽管被告同意了初步没收令，但 G Club 资金不能转化为被告的资产。\n\n21. 此外，政府已表示打算对其他 G Club 资产寻求没收。参见 Department of Justice（司法部）2025年3月18日信函第 3-4 页，附于本请愿书附件 4。\n\n22. 尽管在本请愿书中并未专门作为争议焦点，但显而易见的是，郭文贵，或引申至在郭文贵于 Bridgeport Connecticut（康涅狄格州布里奇波特）提起的破产案件（即 In re Ho Wan Kwok, Case No. 22-50073 (Bankr. D. Conn. Feb. 15, 2022)，以下简称“郭文贵破产案”）中任命的第 11 章受托人（以下简称“受托人”），均不能对被扣押的 G Club 资产或本法院管辖权下的任何其他资产主张权益。21 U.S.C § 853(l)；2 参见 Sweet v. United States (In re VPH Pharmacy, Inc.), No. 18-11280, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 124224, at *6 (E.D. Mich. July 25, 2018)（“此外，对于追回或执行任何没收的任何诉讼，享有原始及排他性管辖权的是地区法院，而非破产法院。”）；United States v. DeMiro, 446 B.R. 804, 808 (E.D. Mich. 2011)（就“所有事项”准许强制撤回审理动议\n\n1 然而必须指出的是，并非所有会员都认为 G Club 是被告和/或郭文贵欺诈计划的一部分，因为他们确实从 G Club 获得了一些福利。\n\n2 “无论根据本条可能予以没收的任何财产，或根据本条已被命令没收的任何财产位于何处，美利坚合众国地区法院均具有管辖权做出本条规定的裁定。”21 U.S.C § 853(l)。\n\n关于扣押、没收和分配被没收资产的事项，由法院在刑事案件中进行排他性裁决与判决”）。3 请愿人指出，导致没收裁定及被扣押 G Club 资产的行为发生于 Kwok（郭文贵）破产案开始之前。\n\n23. 在法院认定所有收益均为欺诈收益的范围内（请注意，并非所有 G Club 会员均认为情况如此），请愿人仍然强调，FFP（BVI）Limited 作为独立管理人，随时准备协助政府追踪属于会员的资产，并将协助政府促进将这些资金返还给 G Club 会员，且不反对政府在请愿人逐步结束运营的过程中对其所有后续活动进行监督。G Club 亦不反对政府所要求的减免程序拟任管理人，FFP 可以协助该程序。参见 ECF No. 493。\n\n请愿人已就没收及时提出异议\n\n24. 请愿人已根据 21 U.S.C. § 853(n) 及时提交本请愿书，作为无辜第三方请求将扣押的 G Club 资产返还给请愿人。\n\n25. 2025年2月10日或前后，请愿人收到了《没收通知》，其中载明：“除本案被告以外的任何主张对被没收财产享有权益的人，必须根据《联邦刑事诉讼规则》第 32.2 条和 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)(1)，在本通知于该官方政府互联网站点首次发布之日（2025年2月6日）起 60 天内提交附随请愿书。”《没收通知》第 7 页。\n\n26. 因此，请愿人在收到通知后 60 天内及时提交了本请愿书。\n\n3 Kwok 破产案中的信托人目前正在提起多项与 G Club 及其相关专业人员有关的对抗性诉讼。例如，参见 Despins, Luc A., Chapter 11 Trustee v. ACA Capital Group Ltd. et al.，Adv. Proc. No. 5:24-ap-05249（Bankr. D. Conn.，康涅狄格区联邦破产法院）（请求判决认定 G Club 及其他实体为郭文贵的化身/第二自我）；Despins v. FFP (BVI) Limited，Adv. Proc. No. 5:24-ap-0506（Bankr. D. Conn.）3（主张 G Club 为已提供的服务向 FFP 支付的款项应被“追回”并支付给郭文贵破产财产的债权人，而不是支付给所谓的 G Club 受害者）。\n\n据此，请愿人谨向本法院提出请求和请愿：\n\nA. 修改没收裁定，以排除请愿人作为无辜第三方享有权利、所有权和权益的财产，或排除请愿人享有优先权益的财产；\n\nB. 根据 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)(3) 就任何争议事项举行听证会；\n\nC. 作为备选主张，在请愿书被驳回的情况下，请愿人谨此对其在被扣押 G Club 财产中的权益提出赔偿请求；以及\n\nD. 获得法院认为公正和适当的其他及进一步救济。\n\n日期：2025年4月4日 请愿人\n\nG CLUB OPERATIONS, LLC\n\n签署人：/s/ Jeffrey M. Sklarz\nJeffrey M. Sklarz\nGreen & Sklarz LLC\nOne Audubon Street, Third Floor\nNew Haven, CT 06511\n电话：(203) 285-8545\n传真：(203) 823-4546\njsklarz@gs-lawfirm.com\n\n确认宣誓书\n\n本人 Andrew Childe（安德鲁·柴尔德），年满 18 周岁，确信誓言的神圣性，特在接受伪证处罚的前提下陈述如下：\n\n1. 本人是 FFP (BVI), Ltd.（“FFP”）的一名董事。\n\n2. FFP 于 2023年6月1日或前后被聘请为 G Club Operations, LLC（“G Club”）的独立管理人。\n\n3. 本人对于上述《根据联邦刑事诉讼规则第 32.2 条关于对请愿人就特定财产享有的权利进行裁决的经宣誓请愿书》（“请愿书”）中所载信息具有亲历知悉或调查知悉。\n\n4. 本人获得授权代表 G Club 提交该请愿书。\n\n5. 本人证明并声明，在接受伪证处罚的前提下，本人的请愿并非无理取闹，且据本人所知和确信，为支持本人请愿而提供的信息均属真实准确。\n\n6. 本人代表 G Club 聘请了上述指定的律师和律师事务所（Green & Sklarz LLC 的 Jeffrey M. Sklarz 律师），该律师有权在此事项中代表 G Club。本人已完整审阅上述请愿书，确认其内容在各方面均属真实准确。本人在接受伪证处罚的前提下声明，上述信息真实准确。\n\n日期：2025年4月4日 _____________________________\n\nA.I. Qili\n\nAndrew Childe","key_entities":["forfeiture","Kwok","Je","853(n)","Guo","RICO","GTV","Miles Guo","Ho Wan Kwok","Despins","Himalaya","Farm Loan","CIPA","Rule 32.2"],"ecf_references":[{"doc_number":476,"court":"SDNY"},{"doc_number":488,"court":"SDNY"},{"doc_number":493,"court":"SDNY"}],"word_count":2595,"status":"published","published_at":"2025-04-04 00:00:00","created_at":"2025-04-04","updated_at":"2026-08-23 07:31:05"}