{"id":"court_sdny_605_0","court":"SDNY","case_no":"23-cr-00118","doc_number":605,"sub_number":0,"doc_type":"ORDER","filed_date":"2025-04-04","title":"UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK UNITED STATES OF AMERICA","summary_zh":"第三方没收财产异议申请——美国诉 Ho Wan Kwok（Miles Guo / Guo Wengui）案，SDNY 1:23-cr-00118 ECF #605（2025 年 4 月 4 日立案）。第三方申请人就政府对 Silvergate Bank 账户 5090042770（Hamilton Opportunity Fund SPC 名下）的没收提出异议，主张对该账户中的资金拥有法律权益。申请人声称 Yvette Wang 被告人对该账户无权益，其对申请人财产的没收因此无效，要求法院修改没收令、排除其财产并下令返还，并申请律师费和诉讼费补偿。","summary_en":"Third-party petition to adjudicate interest in forfeited property—United States v. Ho Wan Kwok (Miles Guo/Guo Wengui), SDNY 1:23-cr-00118 ECF #605 (filed Apr. 4, 2025). Third-party petitioner challenges the government's forfeiture of funds in Silvergate Bank account 5090042770 (held in the name of Hamilton Opportunity Fund SPC), asserting legal interest in those funds. Petitioner contends that defendant Yvette Wang has no interest in the account and thus has no lawful authority to forfeit petitioner's property, seeking amendment of the forfeiture order, return of property, and recovery of attorney's fees and costs.","body_en":"# UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK\n\n# UNITED STATES OF AMERICA\n\n- v. -\n\nYVETTE WANG a/k/a \"Yanping,\" a/k/a \"Y,\"\n\nDefendant.\n\n**THIRD-PARTY PETITION TO ADJUDICATE PETITIONER'S INTEREST IN FORFEITED PROPERTY AND TO AMEND THE PRELIMINARY ORDER OF FORFEITURE - VERIFIED CLAIM OF**\n\nS4 23 Cr. 118 (AT)\n\nPetitioner (\"Petitioner\") files this Third-Party Petition to Adjudicate Petitioner's Interest in Forfeited Property and to Amend the Preliminary Order of Forfeiture, pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 853(n) and Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32.2(c) (the \"Petition\"). Petitioner seeks the return of funds in which Petitioner has a legal right, title, and/or interest (\"Petitioner's Property\") (as more fully defined below) and that the United States Government (the \"Government\") improperly seized as part of an order of forfeiture entered into with Defendant Yvette Wang (\"Defendant Wang\"). Specifically, Petitioner's Property was improperly seized by the Government when the Government seized all the funds in bank account number 5090042770 at Silvergate Bank held in the name of Hamilton Opportunity Fund SPC (\"Account 2770\"). However, any order of forfeiture reaching the funds in Account 2770, including Petitioner's Property, was unlawful and improper as Defendant Wang has no legal right, title, or interest in either Account 2770 or Petitioner's Property. The Forfeiture Order (as more fully defined below) is therefore rendered invalid as to Petitioner's Property because right, title, or interest in Petitioner's Property was vested in the Petitioner rather than Defendant Wang, and was superior to any right, title, or interest of Defendant Wang at the time of the commission of the acts which gave rise to the Forfeiture Order (as defined below). As such, this Court should amend the Forfeiture Order to remove Petitioner's Property from the Forfeiture Order and order that the Government immediately return Petitioner's Property to Petitioner. In support of Petitioner's claim, Petitioner states as follows:\n\n#### **I. PRELIMINARY STATEMENT**\n\nIt appears that the funds in Account 2770, including Petitioner's Property, were purely \"collateral damage\" in the Government's seizure of assets prior to its prosecution of Defendant Wang and Miles Guo (\"Defendant Guo\"). It has been over two and a half years since the seizure of Account 2770, and in that time span, there has never been any explanation as to how Account 2770 (including Petitioner's Property) is related to any of the offenses to which Defendant Wang pled guilty, a necessary prerequisite to a valid forfeiture order under the law. There was never any showing that any proceeds of any unlawful activity to which Defendant Wang pled guilty were ever deposited in Account 2770; no showing that any proceeds of such activity were ever commingled with Petitioner's Property; and, indeed, no showing that Defendant Wang ever had anything to do with Account 2770 or even knew of its existence.\n\nAs will be shown below, Petitioner is a beneficiary of a constructive trust over Petitioner's Property and Petitioner's Property cannot be seized by the Government in this case. Neither Defendant Wang, nor the Government who now stands in her shoes, have ever demonstrated that they have any interest whatsoever in Petitioner's Property in Account 2770 or in Account 2770 in general. While Defendant Wang consented to the forfeiture of \"all her right, title, and interest\" in Account 2770 (and thus, Petitioner's Property) in the Forfeiture Order (ECF No. 488 at 2-3), her consent has no legal bearing as to Account 2770 or Petitioner's Property. Defendant Wang never had such \"right, title, and interest\" in Account 2770 – there is no evidence that she was a signatory on Account 2770, ever deposited money into Account 2770, or otherwise had any control over Account 2770, and there is no evidence that Defendant Wang ever directed anyone, directly or indirectly, to deposit any money into Account 2770. Defendant Wang cannot forfeit property that she does not own, and in which she has no interest. In fact, it appears that the Court never established that Petitioner's Property is even subject to forfeiture in the first instance, as required by Fed.R.Crim.P. 32.2.(b)(1)(A).\n\nFor all the foregoing reasons, and for the reasons demonstrated below, Petitioner respectfully requests that this Court: (1) grant this Petition; (2) amend the Forfeiture Order to exclude Petitioner's Property; (3) order the immediate return of Petitioner's Property to Petitioner; (4) order that Petitioner is entitled to recover Petitioner's attorneys' fees and costs incurred in connection with this Petition and grant Petitioner leave to submit an application for such attorneys' fees and costs; and (5) grant such and other relief that is necessary and just.\n\n#### **II. BACKGROUND FACTS**\n\n#### **A. Petitioner's Property**\n\n1. Hamilton Opportunity Fund SPC (\"Hamilton Opportunity Fund\"), a Cayman Islands Segregated Portfolio Company, provided Petitioner with an Offering Memorandum (the \"Offering Memorandum\") dated January 20, 2022. A true and correct copy of the Offering Memorandum is attached hereto as **Exhibit A.**\n\n2. Hamilton Opportunity Fund is a \"fund specializing in equity investments selected by the Investment Manager [as that term is defined in the Offering Memorandum] with a view to long-term capital gains.\" **Exhibit A**, Offering Memorandum at 33. The Investment Manager (as that term is defined in the Offering Memorandum) had identified an opportunity to invest in a bank (the \"Digital Bank\") (as more fully described in Offering Memorandum at 33). In connection with this investment, Hamilton Opportunity Fund sought to raise capital by issuing various classes of shares. *Id.* at 34.\n\n3. The Offering Memorandum offered Petitioner an opportunity to acquire Class B Shares attributed to a segregated portfolio of Hamilton Opportunity Fund - Hamilton M&A Fund SP (the \"M&A Fund\").\n\n4. Defendant Wang was not a director or member of, and otherwise lacked any corporate or equity interest in, the M&A Fund or Hamilton Opportunity Fund. The evidentiary record is devoid of any evidence to the contrary.\n\n5. Defendant Wang did not make any investments in the M&A Fund; again, the evidentiary record is devoid of any evidence to the contrary.\n\n6. On January 24, 2022, Petitioner submitted an application (the \"Subscription Agreement\") to Hamilton Opportunity Fund for a subscription for \\$120,000.00 worth of Class B Shares in the M&A Fund. A true and correct copy of the Subscription Agreement is attached hereto as **Exhibit B.**\n\n7. On January 25, 2022, Hamilton Opportunity Fund, on behalf of the M&A Fund, approved and accepted the Subscription Agreement. *See* **Exhibit B**, Subscription Agreement at 15.\n\n8. On February 14, 2022, pursuant to the terms of the Subscription Agreement, Petitioner wired \\$122,500.00 (the \"Petitioner Property\") to Account Number 5090042770 at Silvergate Bank. A true and correct copy of the wire confirmation is attached hereto as **Exhibit C**.\n\n9. The account to which Petitioner wired Petitioner Property to is Account 2770.\n\n10. Pursuant to the terms of the Offering Memorandum, Petitioner is entitled to redemption of Petitioner's shares at the Petitioner's option. **Exhibit A**, Offering Memorandum at 17; *see also id.* at 53 (stating that subject to certain limitations, \"Class B Shares may be redeemed\n\n4\n\nat the option of the Shareholder on any Redemption Day\").\n\n11. The assets of Hamilton Opportunity Fund are \"kept segregated, separate and separately identifiable from those of any other segregated portfolios of the Fund and any general assets of the Fund.\" **Exhibit A**, Offering Memorandum at 12. In addition, pursuant to the laws of the Cayman Islands, it is the duty of Hamilton Opportunity Fund to \"segregate, and keep segregated, portfolio assets of each segregated portfolio separate and separately identifiable from segregated portfolio assets of any other segregated portfolio.\" **Exhibit A**, Offering Memorandum at 22-23 (citing the Companies Act (Revised) of Cayman Islands, Part XIV, 219(6)(b)).\n\n### **B. Seizure of Account 2770**\n\n12. On September 18, 2022, the Government seized the entire balance of the funds in Account 2770.\n\n13. To date, there are no documents available publicly as to what probable cause the Government had to seize the funds in Account 2770.\n\n## **C. The Criminal Case Against Defendant Wang and Defendant Guo and the Forfeiture Order**\n\n14. On March 6, 2023, the Government filed an indictment against Defendant Wang and Defendant Guo, and a third defendant, William Je, who has never been arraigned. ECF No. 2.\n\n15. On May 3, 2024, the Government filed a superseding information (the \"Superseding Information\") against Defendant Wang. ECF No. 325. The Superseding Information charged Defendant Wang with one count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud (Count I) (Superseding Information at 1-2) and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering (Count II) (Superseding Information at 2-4). The Superseding Information also contained a Forfeiture Allegation (the \"Forfeiture Allegation\"). Superseding Information at 4.\n\n16. On the same day, May 3, 2024, Defendant Wang pled guilty to Count I and Count\n\nII as charged in the Superseding Information.\n\n17. Also on May 3, 2024, this Court entered a Consent Preliminary Order of Forfeiture as to Specific Property/Money Judgment (\"Original Forfeiture Order\"). ECF No. 329.\n\n18. In the Original Forfeiture Order, Defendant Wang consented to forfeit, \"all *her*  right, title, and interest in\" certain assets, including Account 2770, because such property \"constitute[ed] proceeds of the offenses charged in Count One that the Defendant personally obtained and/or property involved in offense charged in Count Two of the [Superseding] Information.\" Original Forfeiture Order at 2-6 (emphasis added).\n\n19. Defendant Guo did not plead guilty to any of the offenses charged against him. Accordingly, a jury trial was held between May 22, 2024 and July 16, 2024 (the \"Guo Trial\"). On July 16, 2024, the jury found Defendant Guo guilty of racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit securities fraud, securities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. ECF No. 395. As of the date of this Petition, Defendant Guo has not yet been sentenced.\n\n20. On January 6, 2025, Defendant Wang was sentenced.\n\n21. On January 7, 2025, this Court entered a Consent Preliminary Order of Forfeiture as to Specific Property/Money Judgment (the \"Forfeiture Order\") ECF No. 488. As it pertains to Petitioner, the Forfeiture Order is substantially similar to the Original Forfeiture Order in all material respects. In the Forfeiture Order, Defendant Wang consented to forfeit, \"all *her* right, title, and interest in\" certain assets, including Account 2770, because such property \"constitute[ed] proceeds of the offenses charged in Count One that the Defendant personally obtained and/or property involved in offense charged in Count Two of the [Superseding] Information.\" Forfeiture Order at 2-11 (emphasis added).\n\n22. The assets in Account 2770 are described in both the Original Forfeiture Order and\n\nthe Forfeiture Order as follows:\n\n\\$89,992,861.75 in United States currency formerly on deposit in account number 5090042770 at Silvergate Bank, held in the name of \"Hamilton Opportunity Fund SPC\" and seized by the Government on or about September 18, 2022 (23-FBl-000074).\n\nOriginal Forfeiture Order at 3; Forfeiture Order at 3.\n\n## **III. ARGUMENT**\n\n23. In an ancillary criminal forfeiture proceeding pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 853(n) and Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32.2(c)(1), this Court must determine, by a preponderance of the evidence, whether a petitioner has a legal right, title, or interest in the property to be forfeited, and whether such right, title, or interest renders the order of forfeiture invalid, in whole or in part, because such interest was vested in the petitioner rather than the defendant, or was superior to any right, title, or interest of the defendant at the time of the commission of the acts which gave rise to the forfeiture of the property. *See* 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)(6)(A).\n\n24. Here, Petitioner has a legal right, title, or interest in Petitioner's Property pursuant to 21 U.S.C. §853(n)(6)(A) by virtue of a constructive trust over such property. Moreover, Petitioner's interest in Petitioner's Property was both vested in Petitioner and was superior to any right Defendant Wang had in Petitioner's Property because Defendant Wang had *no* legal right, title or, interest in either Petitioner's Property or Account 2770. In other words, Defendant Wang could not forfeit her interest in Account 2770 because she had no interest that was properly subject to criminal forfeiture. Accordingly, the Forfeiture Order should be modified to remove Petitioner's Property, and Petitioner's Property should be returned to Petitioner.\n\n# **A. The Government Failed to Demonstrate that the Funds in Account 2770, Including Petitioner's Property, Were Properly Subject to Forfeiture in the First Instance, Making the Forfeiture Order Improper as to Such Funds**\n\n25. The Government has no legal cause to retain Petitioner's Property because there is no evidence that the Government has ever demonstrated that Petitioner's Property, and Account 2770 in general, is actually forfeitable property, as required by Fed.R.Crim.P. 32.2.(b)(1)(A).\n\n26. \"When the government seeks to obtain an order of forfeiture, 'Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32.2(b)(1) ... requires the sentencing court to determine what property is subject to forfeiture under the applicable statute.'\" *U.S. v. Watts*, 786 F.3d 152, 172 (2d Cir. 2015) (citing *U.S. v. Capoccia*, 503 F.3d 103, 109 (2d Cir.2007)). Pursuant to Fed.R.Crim.P. 32.2, \"if the government seeks forfeiture of specific property, the court *must* determine whether the government has established the requisite nexus between the property and the offense.\" Fed.R.Crim.P. 32.2.(b)(1)(A) (emphasis added); *Watts*, 786 F.3d at 172. \"At various points in the proceedings, *the government bears the burden of proving this legal conclusion* to varying degrees of certainty: as a matter of probable cause at a post-indictment hearing. . .or by a preponderance of the evidence at a bench trial or before a jury.\" *Id.* (emphasis added) (internal citations omitted). \"Only if the government meets the relevant legal threshold, however, may the property in question be considered 'subject to forfeiture' in any legal sense. Prior to that, while the government has simply announced its intent to seek forfeiture through the indictment, the property is seen merely as 'potentially forfeitable' . . . or 'potentially subject to forfeiture.'\" *Id.* (internal citations omitted).\n\n27. This means that before the court reaches the question of whether the petitioner is entitled to the return of the property under §853(n), it is necessary to determine if the property in dispute is actually forfeitable in the first instance. If not, the government had no statutory authority to seize the property. If the property was improperly seized, the government must return the\n\naccounts seized regardless of whether the petitioner can meet the criteria set forth in §853(n). *See e.g. United States v. Delco Wire & Cable Co*., 772 F. Supp. 1511, 1518 (E.D.PA, 1991).\n\n28. A full and complete Fed. R. Crim. P. 32.2.(b)(1)(A) inquiry is critical to the fair administration of justice. The entire forfeiture system rests upon the supposition that a court has conducted an inquiry and determined that the property is subject to forfeiture. In enacting ancillary proceeding statutes, Congress chose to place the burden of proof on the third-party during an ancillary proceeding, since \"the United States will have already proven its forfeiture allegations in the criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt.\" S. REP. 98-225, 209, 1984 U.S.C.C.A.N. 3182, 3392.\n\n29. In this matter, there has never been a determination of whether there exists a nexus between Account 2770 and any of the offenses Defendant Wang was charged with (and pled guilty to), and, as a result, Petitioner is forced to file this Petition. Based on all the information contained in the publicly-available documentsin both Defendant Wang's and Defendant Guo's criminal case, the Government cannot prevail with respect to Account 2770.\n\n30. Here, in the Superseding Information, the Government included a Forfeiture Allegation as to both Counts I and Count II and sought forfeiture of specific property. Superseding Information at 4. There is no evidence in the record that the Government even attempted to show, let alone that it met its burden to show, a nexus between Account 2770, and the offenses to which Defendant Wang pled guilty.\n\n31. As to Count I, the Forfeiture Allegation states that, \"[a]s a result of committing the wire fraud offense alleged in Count One of this Superseding Information, YVETTE WANG, a/k/a \"Yanping\" a/k/a \"Y,\" the defendant, shall forfeit to the United States pursuant to Title 18, United\n\n9\n\nStates Code, Section[] 981(a)(1)(C)<sup>1</sup>...and Title 28, United States Code, Section 2461(c), any and all property, real and personal, that constitutes or is derived from proceeds traceable to the commission of said offense.\" Superseding Information at 4. The Government must prove the elements of forfeiture under 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(C) by a preponderance of the evidence. 18 U.S.C. § 983(c)(1). Moreover, \"if the Government's theory of forfeiture is that the property was used to commit or facilitate the commission of a criminal offense, or was involved in the commission of a criminal offense, the Government shall establish that there was a substantial connection between the property and the offense.\" 18 U.S.C. § 983(c)(3).\n\n32. The record is devoid of any allegations pertaining to how funds in Account 2770 are, or are derived from, proceeds traceable to Defendant Wang's conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The Superseding Information alleges that \"[f]rom at least in or about 2018 until at least on or about March 15, 2023, coconspirators made false representations to investors that they would receive stock in exchange for their investments in GTV, the Himalaya Farm Alliance organization, and GClubs, and that they would receive cryptocurrency in exchange for their investments in the Himalaya Exchange [(the \"Fraud Scheme\")]. Through the [Fraud Scheme], YVETTE WANG, a/k/a \"Yanping,\" a/k/a \"Y,\" the defendant, and her coconspirators, including Miles Guo, induced investors to invest more than \\$1 billion into entities Guo controlled.\" Superseding Information at 2. There are no allegations in the Superseding Information regarding Defendant Wang depositing any proceeds from the Fraud Scheme into Account 2770. Similarly, there are no allegations in the Superseding Information that as a result of the Fraud Scheme, any investors deposited money into\n\n<span id=\"page-9-0\"></span><sup>1</sup> 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(C) provides that \"[a]ny property, real or personal, [is subject to forfeiture] which constitutes or is derived from proceeds traceable to a violation of\" various specified offenses, including violations of 18 U.S.C. § 1343, wire fraud, as charged against Defendant Wang in Count I.\n\nAccount 2770. Nor can there be any such allegations, as the only deposits into Account 2770 were from investors who were investing in the Digital Bank – an investment that is not implicated in any way by the \"Fraud Scheme\" described in the Superseding Information. To be sure, Petitioner affirms that Petitioner was never a victim of any conduct by Defendant Wang alleged in the Superseding Information and does not believe that any of Petitioner's Property was ever used in any unlawful activity.\n\n33. Finally, there was no relevant testimony during Defendant Guo's trial concerning Account 2770. There was no testimony regarding whether any of the proceeds of the Fraud Scheme were ever deposited into Account 2770, nor, for that matter, whether Defendant Wang ever deposited any money into Account 2770. Simply put, there is nothing in the record that would indicate there is a nexus between Account 2770 and Defendant Wang's wire fraud charge, let alone sufficient evidence to determine that the Government met its burden of showing, and the Court properly adjudicated, that the appropriate nexus exists for forfeiture of Account 2770 to be proper.\n\n34. As to Count II, the Forfeiture Allegation states that, \"[a]s a result of committing the money laundering offense alleged in Count Two of this Information, YVETTE WANG, a/k/a \"Yanping\" a/k/a \"Y,\" the defendant, shall forfeit to the United States pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 982(a)(1)[2](#page-10-0) , any and all property, real and personal, involved in said offense, or any property traceable to such property, including but not limited to a sum of money in United States currency representing the amount of property involved in said offense.\" Superseding Information at 4. As to Count II, The Government \"must prove the elements of forfeiture under 18\n\n<span id=\"page-10-0\"></span><sup>2</sup> 18 U.S.C. § 982(a)(1) provides that \"[t]he court, imposing sentence on a person convicted of an offense in violation of section 1956 [the money-laundering statute] of this title . . . shall order that the person forfeit to the United States any property, real or personal, *involved in such offense*, or any property *traceable to such property*.\" 18 U.S.C. § 982(a)(1) (emphasis added).\n\nU.S.C. § 982(a)(1) by a preponderance of the evidence.\" *U.S. v. Beltramea*, 785 F.3d 287, 290 (8th Cir. 2015).\n\n35. The Superseding Information alleges that Defendant Wang committed conspiracy to launder money because Defendant Wang \"knowing that the property involved in certain financial transactions represented the proceeds of some form of unlawful activity, would and did conduct and attempt to conduct such financial transactions. . .and which in fact involved the proceeds of specified unlawful activity, to wit, proceeds of the wire fraud scheme alleged in Count One of this Information.\" Superseding Information at 3.\n\n36. It is unclear how Account 2770 could be forfeited for the money laundering charge in Count II. From the allegations, the charge of money laundering arises from Defendant Wang engaging in financial transactions with the \"proceeds of the wire fraud scheme alleged in Count One.\" Superseding Information at 3. As argued above, there is no evidence that funds in Account 2770 had any relation to the Fraud Scheme alleged in Count I (*see* ¶¶ 31-33, above) – there is no evidence that such funds \"constitute[d] or [were] derived from proceeds traceable to the commission of\" wire fraud. *See e.g.* 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(C). Since funds in Account 2770 were not Fraud Scheme proceeds nor were they derived from Fraud Scheme proceeds, such funds could not serve as the basis for the money laundering charge in Count II and cannot be forfeited as part of Defendant Wang's conviction for Count II.\n\n37. The overt acts that the Government alleges to support the money laundering charge further fail to show how the funds in Account 2770 can be forfeitable. In the Superseding Information, the Government sets forth two acts evidencing money laundering. Superseding Information at 3. Although the Government states that these two overt acts were \"among others\" that Defendant Wang committed in furtherance of the alleged conspiracy to launder money\n\n12\n\n(Superseding Information at 3), these other acts were never identified.\n\n38. First, per the Superseding Information, on May 20, 2020, Defendant Wang opened a bank account in the name of GTV, which, notably, Account 2770 was *not*. Superseding Information at 3. On June 2, 2020, Defendant Wang transferred approximately \\$200 million to that account. *Id.* The funds transferred into the GTV account were from a JP Morgan Chase Bank account held by Saraca Media Group, Inc. (\"Saraca\") (Guo Trial, 05/31/2024, 953:25-954:4; Guo Trial, 06/26/2024, 4359:1-14), *not* from Account 2770. There was never any testimony that any money from Account 2770 ever went into the Saraca JP Morgan Chase Bank account to then be transferred to the GTV account cited in the Superseding Information. Moreover, Account 2770 did not even exist in 2020.\n\n39. The second act the Government alleges is that \"on or about June 5, 2020,\" Defendant Wang \"authorized a wire transfer of \\$100 million from GTV's parent company, Saraca, to a high-risk hedge fund, for the benefit of Saraca and its ultimate beneficial owner, Defendant Guo's son.\" Superseding Information at 3-4. First, this plainly alleges that the money was transferred from a Saraca account, which Account 2770 was demonstrably not. Also, again, there was never any testimony that any money from Account 2770 ever went into a Saraca account. Moreover, once again, Account 2770 did not even exist in 2020.\n\n40. As seen from the above argument, there are no allegations or testimony regarding Account 2770 whatsoever. The *only* reference in the record to Account 2770 is Defendant Wang's consent to forfeit it. However, \"a defendant's consent to forfeiture [does not] abrogate the requirement that a nexus exist between the property sought for forfeiture and the conviction of offense.\" *Beltramea*, 785 F.3d at 291. As the Eighth Circuit stressed, \"[t]he district court had an independent duty to *ensure* that the required nexus exists.\" *Id.* (emphasis added).\n\n41. Here, there are no factual allegations in the Superseding Information, in the Original Forfeiture Order or the Forfeiture Order as to even an alleged nexus between Account 2770 and the offenses to which Defendant Wang pled guilty.\n\n42. The Government's continued retention of the funds in Account 2770, without showing that there is a nexus, is wrong and inequitable. Should the Government retain the funds in Account 2770, it will be unjustly enriched, since the funds belong to third parties, including Petitioner, who are (1) not Defendant Wang or Defendant Guo; and (2) not involved the Fraud Scheme, let alone victims of such a scheme. *See, e.g., U.S. v. Bajakajian*, 524 U.S. 321, 332 (1998) (explaining that a criminal \"forfeiture serves no remedial purpose, is designed to punish the offender, *and cannot be imposed upon innocent owners*.\") (emphasis added).\n\n## **B. Petitioner Has Interest in Petitioner's Property Because There Exists a Constructive Trust Over Such Property**\n\n43. Even putting aside the Government's failure to properly demonstrate that the funds in Account 2770 were part of any activity alleged in the Superseding Information, Petitioner's Property should be returned to Petitioner because Petitioner has a greater interest in it than does Defendant Wang, or, now, the Government.\n\n44. Under the doctrine of constructive trusts, Petitioner's Property is protected and remains the property of Petitioner regardless of any other ownership claims, including Defendant\n\nWang's or the Government, standing in her shoes. The Second Circuit[3](#page-14-0) has held that \"a constructive trust qualifies as a 'legal right, title, or interest in the property' that 'may be a superior interest' to a defendant's interest for the purposes of a forfeiture statute analogous to 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)(6)(A).\" *Willis Mgmt. (Vermont), Ltd. v. United States*, 652 F.3d 236, 242 (2d Cir. 2011).\n\n45. \"A constructive trust is an equitable remedy, *necessarily flexible to accomplish its purpose*.\" *Counihan v. Allstate Ins. Co*., 194 F.3d 357, 361 (2d Cir. 1999) (emphasis added). \"Its purpose is to prevent unjust enrichment, although unjust enrichment does not necessarily implicate the performance of a wrongful act. . .What is necessary is that the court identify a party who is holding property *under such circumstances that in equity and good conscience he ought not to retain it*.\" *Id.* (internal citations omitted).\n\n46. \"Whether a party is unjustly enriched is a legal conclusion reached through the application of principles of equity. . . A court of equity in decreeing a constructive trust is bound by no unyielding formula. The equity of the transaction must shape the measure of relief. . . Unjust enrichment results when a person retains a benefit which, under the circumstances of the transfer and considering the relationship of the parties, it would be inequitable to retain.\" *Id.* (internal\n\n<span id=\"page-14-0\"></span><sup>3</sup> \"The federal common law choice-of-law rule is to apply the law of the jurisdiction having the greatest interest in the litigation.\" *In re Koreag, Controle et Revision S.A.*, 961 F.2d 341, 350 (2d Cir. 1992), *aff'd in part sub nom. Refco F/X Assocs., Inc. v. Mebco Bank, S.A*., No. 89 CIV. 3071 (WK), 1992 WL 200748 (S.D.N.Y. July 31, 1992). Here, there are three competing jurisdictions whose laws could apply: New York, California, and Cayman Islands. Petitioner's payment of Petitioner's Property was pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, which is governed by Cayman Islands law. *See* **Exhibit B**, Subscription Agreement at 8, ¶ 2(s). Account 2770 *was* an account in a California bank when Petitioner deposited Petitioner's Property. Since Account 2770 was seized (pursuant to a search and seizure warrant issued by a court in New York state), the funds are now in possession of the Government in New York. New York is the forum state of this case. From these facts, New York has the greatest interest in this litigation, and its laws should apply to an imposition of a constructive trust. However, to the extent that the Government challenges this choice-of-law determination, Petitioner reserves all rights to request that this Court impose a constructive trust over Petitioner's Property under California and/or Cayman Islands law.\n\ncitations omitted).\n\n47. The New York Court of Appeals outlined several factors to be considered in determining whether a constructive trust should be imposed in certain circumstances, including \"(1) a confidential or fiduciary relation, (2) a promise, (3) a transfer in reliance thereon and (4) unjust enrichment.\" *Sharp v. Kosmalski*, 40 N.Y.2d 119, 121 (1976). However, New York courts have long held that \"these factors are merely useful guides and are not talismanic.\" *Counihan*, 194 F.3d at 362 (citing to a plethora of New York state cases that have stated this proposition).\n\n48. Here, there is a constructive trust for the benefit of Petitioner over Petitioner's Property as of the date that it was deposited into Account 2770.\n\n49. Petitioner entered into a confidential and/or fiduciary relationship[4](#page-15-0) with Hamilton Opportunity Fund when Petitioner executed the Subscription Agreement in order to acquire certain Class B shares in Hamilton M&A Fund SP. Per the Subscription Agreement, Hamilton Opportunity Fund SPC made a promise to Petitioner that Petitioner's Property would be invested in the Digital Bank. In reliance on this promise, the Petitioner wired Petitioner's Property to Account 2770 as instructed in the Subscription Agreement. The Government's improper seizure of Account 2770 forced a breach of Hamilton Opportunity Fund SPC's promise to invest Petitioner's Property into the Digital Bank. Because of Government's seizure, Petitioner is not even able to exercise his Right of Redemption to obtain back Petitioner's Property. This would\n\n<span id=\"page-15-0\"></span><sup>4</sup> Even if the Court determines that the relationship was not confidential and/or there was no fiduciary relationship between Hamilton Opportunity Fund and Petitioner, such would not be determinative, as the absence of a fiduciary relationship does not preclude the Court from finding a constructive trust exists. *See Koreag,* 961 F.2d at 353 (stating that \"[w]e do not believe, however, that the lack of a fiduciary relationship between [the parties] automatically defeats [a] claim of constructive trust. Although a fiduciary relationship is one of the factors cited by New York courts, the absence of any one factor will not itself defeat the imposition of a constructive trust when otherwise required by equity\").\n\nresult in unjust enrichment to the benefit of the Government since the Government is now retaining Petitioner's Property without any legal cause to do so. *See, e.g., U.S. v. Coluccio*, 51 F.3d 337, 340 (2nd Cir. 1995) (finding that imposition of a constructive trust was proper where, amongst other reasons, Government's forfeiture caused a breach of an implied promise); *Torres v. \\$36,256.80 U.S. Currency*, 25 F.3d 1154, 1159 (2d Cir. 1994) (finding a constructive trust appropriate where \"The government's forfeiture forced a breach of that promise that may result in a potentially unjust enrichment of the government (and commensurate unjust impoverishment of [the plaintiff]).\")\n\n50. Accordingly, Petitioner has shown that a constructive trust should be imposed over Petitioner's Property. Such a constructive trust \"qualifies as a 'legal right, title, or interest in the property' that 'may be a superior interest' to a defendant's interest for the purposes of a forfeiture statute analogous to 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)(6)(A).\" *Willis*, 652 F.3d at 242.\n\n51. The property upon which the constructive trust is sought – Petitioners Property - is easily traceable. *See* **Exhibit C***.*\n\n52. Moreover, the imposition of a constructive trust is fully available to Petitioner, even if the Government contends that others are owed restitution from any forfeited property. \"When a party can directly trace its assets, without resorting to fictions or presumptions, a constructive trust is available even in cases involving multiple fraud victims.\" *U.S. v. Ovid,* 2012 WL 2087084, \\*7 (E.D.N.Y., Jun. 8, 2012). \"[C]ourts are not free to disregard the law of constructive trusts when a claimant can directly trace its property, even if this leaves one innocent victim better off than another equally innocent victim.\" *Id.* The \"orthodox approach to multiple-fraud cases\" is to \"return[] identifiable assets to their owners, turning to pro rata distribution only when specific identification or transactional tracing is impossible.\" *Id.* at \\*8 (citing *Restatement (Third) of Restitution & Unjust Enrichment*, § 59 Reporter's Note G, at 437).\n\n#### **C. Petitioner Has a Superior Interest in the Petitioner's Property**\n\n53. Petitioner's interest in Petitioner's Property is absolutely superior to any interest that the Government or Defendant Wang may have in Petitioner's Property.\n\n54. 21 U.S.C. § 853(n) is clear that, in addition to Petitioner's interest in the forfeited property, that Petitioner must demonstrate, by a preponderance of the evidence, that Petitioner's interest \"renders the order of forfeiture invalid in whole or in part because the right, title, or interest was vested in the petitioner *rather than the defendant* or was superior to any right, title, or interest *of the defendant* at the time of the commission of the acts which give rise to the forfeiture of the property under this section.\" 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)(6)(A) (emphasis added).\n\n55. Here, as set forth above, Defendant Wang never had any interest in Petitioner's Property or Account 2770; indeed, the record is entirely silent as to what the relationship is between Defendant Wang, the Fraud Scheme, and Account 2770.\n\n56. It is axiomatic that neither the Government nor Defendant Wang can argue that they have a superior interest in a property in which they never had an interest. Likewise, Defendant Wang cannot forfeit her interest in a property in which she had no interest.\n\n### **D. Petitioner is Entitled to Costs and Attorneys' Fees**\n\n57. The Petitioner has been required to retain legal counsel and has incurred costs to file this petition asserting Petitioner's right to Petitioner's Property and to challenge the forfeiture of Petitioner's Property. Upon prevailing in this proceeding, Petitioner reserves all rights to recover attorneys' fees and costs incurred in connection with this Petition and may recover Petitioner's costs and reasonable attorney's fees pursuant to the Equal Access to Justice Act (\"EAJA\"), 28 U.S.C. § 2412. Federal courts have consistently held that § 853(n) proceedings are civil for the purposes of allowing a successful claimant to collect attorney's fees under the EAJA. *See United States v. Cox*, 575 F.3d 352, 355 (4th Cir. 2009); *United States v. Douglas*, 55 F.3d 584, 588 (11th Cir. 1995); *U.S. v. Bailey*, 2015 WL 1893610 at \\*20 (W.D.N.C. Apr. 27, 2015).\n\n### **IV. CONCLUSION**\n\n58. For the reasons stated above, Petitioner has an interest in Petitioner's Property, which renders the Forfeiture Order invalid as to such property. *See e.g.* 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)(6)(A). Defendant Wang does not have any right, title, or interest in Petitioner's Property, and never did. Petitioner has proven, and can prove at any necessary hearing, by preponderance of evidence that the Forfeiture Order needs to be amended to exclude Petitioner's Property.\n\n59. Therefore, Petitioner respectfully requests that this Court: (1) grant this Petition; (2) amend the Forfeiture Order to exclude Petitioner's Property; (3) order the immediate return of Petitioner's Property to Petitioner; (4) order that Petitioner is entitled to recover Petitioner's attorneys' fees and costs incurred in connection with this Petition and grant Petitioner leave to submit an application for such attorneys' fees and costs; and (5) grant such and other relief that is necessary and just.\n\nDated: April 2, 2025\n\nDated: April 2, 2025 Respectfully submitted,\n\n/s/ Jeffrey S. Gavenman Jeffrey S. Gavenman, Esq. Jeremy W. Schulman, Esq. SCHULMAN BHATTACHARYA, LLC 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 425 North Bethesda, MD 20852 (240) 356-8550 [jgavenman@schulmanbh.com](mailto:jgavenman@schulmanbh.com) [jschulman@schulmanbh.com](mailto:jschulman@schulmanbh.com)\n\n/s/ Paul W. Butler Paul W. Butler, Esq. BUTLER LEGAL STRATEGIES 1201 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 531 Washington, D.C. 20036 [paul@butlerlegalstrategies.com](mailto:paul@butlerlegalstrategies.com) *Counsel for Petitioner*\n\n# **ATTESTATION AND OATH**\n\nPursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)(3), I, \\_\\_\\_, attest and declare under penalty of perjury that my claim to this property is not frivolous and that the information provided in support of this claim is true and correct, to the best of my knowledge and belief.\n\nExecuted on this 2nd day of April, 2025\n\nSignature","body_zh":"UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK（美国纽约南区联邦地区法院）\nUNITED STATES OF AMERICA（美利坚合众国）\n\n- v. -（诉）\n\nYVETTE WANG（王雁平），又名“Yanping”，又名“Y”，\n\n被告。\n\n要求裁决请愿人对被没收财产之权益并修改没收初步裁定的第三人请愿书——经核实的主张\n\nS4 23 Cr. 118 (AT)\n\n请愿人（“请愿人”）依据 21 U.S.C. § 853(n) 和《联邦刑事诉讼规则》第 32.2(c) 条提交本《要求裁决请愿人对被没收财产之权益并修改没收初步裁定的第三人请愿书》（“本请愿书”）。请愿人请求返还请愿人拥有合法权利、所有权和/或权益的资金（“请愿人财产”）（定义详见下文），该资金系美国政府（“政府”）作为与被告 Yvette Wang（王雁平，下称“被告王”）达成的没收裁定的一部分而不当扣押的。具体而言，当政府扣押了以 Hamilton Opportunity Fund SPC（汉密尔顿机会基金独立投资组合公司）名义在 Silvergate Bank（银门银行）开立的账号为 5090042770 的银行账户（“2770 账户”）中的全部资金时，请愿人财产即被政府不当扣押。然而，任何涉及 2770 账户中资金（包括请愿人财产）的没收裁定均属非法和不当，因为被告王对 2770 账户或请愿人财产均不享有任何合法权利、所有权或权益。因此，没收裁定（定义详见下文）就请愿人财产而言归于无效，因为在导致没收裁定（定义如下）的行为发生时，请愿人财产的权利、所有权或权益归属于请愿人而非被告王，且优于被告王的任何权利、所有权或权益。因此，本法院应当修改没收裁定，将请愿人财产从没收裁定中剔除，并命令政府立即将请愿人财产返还给请愿人。为支持请愿人的主张，请愿人陈述如下：\n\nI. 初步陈述\n\n2770 账户中的资金（包括请愿人财产）似乎纯属政府在起诉被告王和 Miles Guo（郭文贵，下称“被告郭”）之前扣押资产时的“附带损害”。自 2770 账户被扣押以来已有两年半有余，在此期间，从未有任何解释说明 2770 账户（包括请愿人财产）与被告王认罪答辩的任何罪行有何关联，而这是依法作出有效没收裁定的必要先决条件。从未有任何证据表明被告王认罪答辩的任何非法活动的任何收益曾存入 2770 账户；没有证据表明此类活动的任何收益曾与请愿人财产混同；事实上，也没有证据表明被告王与 2770 账户有任何关系，甚至不知道其存在。\n\n如下文所示，请愿人是请愿人财产拟制信托的受益人，且请愿人财产在本案中不得被政府没收。无论是指控的被告王，还是如今代位其地位的政府，都从未证明他们对 2770 账户中的请愿人财产或对一般的 2770 账户享有任何权益。尽管被告王在没收裁定（ECF No. 488 第 2-3 页）中同意没收其在 2770 账户（以及请愿人财产）中的“全部权利、所有权和权益”，但她的同意对 2770 账户或请愿人财产不具有法律意义。被告王在 2770 账户中从未拥有过此类“权利、所有权和权益”——没有证据表明她是 2770 账户的签字人、曾向 2770 账户存入款项或以其他方式对 2770 账户拥有任何控制权，也没有证据表明被告王曾直接或间接指示任何人向 2770 账户存入任何款项。被告王不能被没收其并不拥有且不享有任何权益的财产。事实上，法院似乎从未依照 Fed.R.Crim.P. 32.2.(b)(1)(A) 的要求，在第一阶段确立请愿人财产属于应予没收的财产。\n\n基于上述所有理由以及下文阐明的理由，请愿人谨请求本法院：(1) 批准本请愿书；(2) 修改没收裁定以排除请愿人财产；(3) 命令立即将请愿人财产返还给请愿人；(4) 裁定请愿人有权追索因本请愿书而发生的请愿人律师费和开支，并准予请愿人提交关于该等律师费和开支的申请；以及 (5) 给予必要且公正的其他救济。\n\nII. 背景事实\n\nA. 请愿人财产\n\n1. Hamilton Opportunity Fund SPC（汉密尔顿机会基金独立投资组合公司，下称“Hamilton Opportunity Fund”），一家开曼群岛独立投资组合公司，向请愿人提供了日期为 2022 年 1 月 20 日的发售备忘录（“《发售备忘录》”）。《发售备忘录》的真实且正确的副本作为附件 A 附于本请愿书后。\n\n2. Hamilton Opportunity Fund 是一家“专门从事由投资经理［定义见《发售备忘录》］以长期资本增值为目的所挑选的股权投资的基金”。附件 A，《发售备忘录》第 33 页。投资经理（定义见《发售备忘录》）已发现一项投资于某家银行（“数字银行”）（详见《发售备忘录》第 33 页）的机会。就该项投资而言，Hamilton Opportunity Fund 寻求通过发行各类股份来募集资金。同上，第 34 页。\n\n3. 《发售备忘录》向请愿人提供了认购属于 Hamilton Opportunity Fund 某一独立投资组合——Hamilton M&A Fund SP（“并购基金”）的 B 类股份的机会。\n\n4. 被告王不是并购基金或 Hamilton Opportunity Fund 的董事或成员，且在并购基金或 Hamilton Opportunity Fund 中亦不拥有任何公司权益或股权权益。证据记录中没有任何相反的证据。\n\n5. 被告王未在并购基金中进行任何投资；同样，证据记录中没有任何相反的证据。\n\n6. 2022 年 1 月 24 日，请愿人向 Hamilton Opportunity Fund 提交了一份申请（“《认购协议》”），用以认购并购基金中价值 $120,000.00 的 B 类股份。《认购协议》的真实且正确的副本作为附件 B 附于本请愿书后。\n\n7. 2022 年 1 月 25 日，Hamilton Opportunity Fund 代表并购基金批准并接受了《认购协议》。见附件 B，《认购协议》第 15 页。\n\n8. 2022 年 2 月 14 日，根据《认购协议》的条款，请愿人向 Silvergate Bank 账号为 5090042770 的账户电汇了 $122,500.00（“请愿人财产”）。电汇确认书的真实且正确的副本作为附件 C 附于本请愿书后。\n\n9. 请愿人电汇请愿人财产所至的账户即为 2770 账户。\n\n10. 根据《发售备忘录》的条款，请愿人有权根据请愿人的选择赎回请愿人的股份。附件 A，《发售备忘录》第 17 页；另见同上，第 53 页（说明在受限于某些限制的情况下，“股东可在任何赎回日自行选择赎回 B 类股份”）。\n\n11. Hamilton Opportunity Fund 的资产“与本基金任何其他独立投资组合的资产以及本基金的任何一般资产保持独立、隔离并可单独识别”。附件 A，《发售备忘录》第 12 页。此外，根据开曼群岛法律，Hamilton Opportunity Fund 有责任“将每个独立投资组合的投资组合资产与任何其他独立投资组合的独立投资组合资产相隔离，并保持隔离且可单独识别”。附件 A，《发售备忘录》第 22-23 页（引用开曼群岛《公司法（修订版）》第 XIV 部分第 219(6)(b) 条）。\n\nB. 扣押 2770 账户\n\n12. 2022 年 9 月 18 日，政府扣押了 2770 账户中的全部资金余额。\n\n13. 迄今为止，没有任何公开可得的文件说明政府扣押 2770 账户中资金具有何种合理根据。\n\nC. 针对被告王和被告郭的刑事案件及没收裁定\n\n14. 2023 年 3 月 6 日，政府对被告王和被告郭，以及第三名从未被提审的被告 William Je（余建明）提起了起诉书。ECF No. 2。\n\n15. 2024 年 5 月 3 日，政府对被告王提交了一份替代起诉书（“《替代起诉书》”）。ECF No. 325。《替代起诉书》指控被告王犯有一项共谋电汇欺诈罪（罪名项一）（《替代起诉书》第 1-2 页）和一项共谋洗钱罪（罪名项二）（《替代起诉书》第 2-4 页）。《替代起诉书》还包含一项没收指控（“没收指控”）。《替代起诉书》第 4 页。\n\n16. 同日，即 2024 年 5 月 3 日，被告王对《替代起诉书》中所指控的罪名项一和罪名项二作出了认罪答辩。\n\n17. 同样在 2024 年 5 月 3 日，本法院作出了一份《关于特定财产/金钱判决的同意没收初步裁定》（“《原没收裁定》”）。ECF No. 329。\n\n18. 在《原没收裁定》中，被告王同意没收其在某些资产中的“全部属于她的权利、所有权和权益”，包括 2770 账户，因为该等财产“构成被告个人获得的罪名项一所指控罪行的收益，和/或涉及［替代］起诉书罪名项二所指控罪行的财产”。《原没收裁定》第 2-6 页（强调为后加）。\n\n19. 被告郭对其被指控的任何罪名均未作认罪答辩。因此，在 2024 年 5 月 22 日至 2024 年 7 月 16 日期间进行了陪审团审理（“郭案审理”）。2024 年 7 月 16 日，陪审团裁定被告郭犯有共谋敲诈勒索罪、共谋电汇欺诈罪、共谋洗钱罪、共谋证券欺诈罪、证券欺诈罪、电汇欺诈罪和洗钱罪。ECF No. 395。截至本请愿书提交之日，被告郭尚未被判刑。\n\n20. 2025 年 1 月 6 日，被告王被判刑。\n\n21. 2025 年 1 月 7 日，本法院作出了一份《关于特定财产/金钱判决的同意没收初步裁定》（“《没收裁定》”），ECF No. 488。在涉及请愿人方面，《没收裁定》在所有实质性方面均与《原没收裁定》大体相同。在《没收裁定》中，被告王同意没收其在某些资产中的“全部属于她的权利、所有权和权益”，包括 2770 账户，因为该等财产“构成被告个人获得的罪名项一所指控罪行的收益，和/或涉及［替代］起诉书罪名项二所指控罪行的财产”。《没收裁定》第 2-11 页（强调为后加）。\n\n22. 在《原没收裁定》和《没收裁定》中，2770 账户中的资产均被描述如下：\n\n原存放在 Silvergate Bank 账号为 5090042770、以“Hamilton Opportunity Fund SPC”名义开立并由政府于 2022 年 9 月 18 日前后扣押（23-FBl-000074）的 $89,992,861.75 美元货币。\n\n《原没收裁定》第 3 页；《没收裁定》第 3 页。\n\nIII. 辩论理由\n\n23. 在依据 21 U.S.C. § 853(n) 及《联邦刑事诉讼规则》（Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure）第 32.2(c)(1) 条进行的附随刑事没收程序中，本法院必须依据优势证据标准判定：请愿人对拟被没收的财产是否拥有法定权利、所有权或权益；以及该等权利、所有权或权益是否导致没收裁定全部或部分无效，理由是该权益在引发该财产没收的作为发生之时归属于请愿人而非被告，或优于被告的任何权利、所有权或权益。参见 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)(6)(A)。\n\n24. 在本案中，请愿人依据 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)(6)(A)，凭借对请愿人财产享有的拟制信托，对请愿人财产拥有法定权利、所有权或权益。此外，请愿人在请愿人财产中的权益既已归属于请愿人，且优于被告 Wang（王雁平）在请愿人财产中拥有的任何权利，因为被告王对请愿人财产或 2770 账户均「不享有任何」法定权利、所有权或权益。换言之，被告王无法没收其在 2770 账户中的权益，因为她不拥有依法应受刑事没收的任何权益。因此，没收裁定应予修改以剔除请愿人财产，并将请愿人财产返还给请愿人。\n\nA. 政府未能自始证明 2770 账户中的资金（包括请愿人财产）依法应予没收，从而使得针对该等资金的没收裁定不当\n\n25. 政府没有扣留请愿人财产的法定事由，因为没有任何证据表明政府曾依 Fed.R.Crim.P. 32.2(b)(1)(A) 的要求，证明请愿人财产以及整个 2770 账户实际上属于可没收财产。\n\n26. 「当政府寻求获得没收裁定时，『《联邦刑事诉讼规则》第 32.2(b)(1) 条……要求量刑法院根据适用成文法确定何等财产属于应予没收的财产。』」U.S. v. Watts, 786 F.3d 152, 172 (2d Cir. 2015)（引自 U.S. v. Capoccia, 503 F.3d 103, 109 (2d Cir. 2007)）。依据 Fed.R.Crim.P. 32.2，「如果政府寻求没收特定财产，法院『必须』确定政府是否已确立该财产与该犯罪之间的必要关联。」Fed.R.Crim.P. 32.2(b)(1)(A)（强调为后加）；Watts, 786 F.3d at 172。「在诉讼程序的不同阶段，『政府承担以不同程度的确定性证明该法律结论的举证责任』：在起诉书后听证会上达到合理根据的标准……或在法官审判或陪审团审判中达到优势证据的标准。」同上（强调为后加）（内部引文省略）。「然而，唯有在政府达到相关法律门槛的情况下，涉案财产方可在任何法律意义上被视为『应予没收』。在此之前，当政府仅通过起诉书宣布其寻求没收的意图时，该财产仅被视为『潜在可没收』……或『潜在应予没收』。」同上（内部引文省略）。\n\n27. 这意味着，在法院进入审理请愿人是否有权根据 § 853(n) 获得财产返还的问题之前，有必要首先确定争议财产自始是否确实属于可没收财产。若非如此，政府便没有扣押该财产的成文法授权。如果财产系被不当扣押，则无论请愿人是否能够满足 § 853(n) 规定的标准，政府均必须返还被扣押的账户。参见例如 United States v. Delco Wire & Cable Co., 772 F. Supp. 1511, 1518 (E.D.PA, 1991)。\n\n28. 进行全面且完整的 Fed. R. Crim. P. 32.2(b)(1)(A) 审查，对于司法公正至关重要。整个没收制度均建立在法院已进行审查并判定该财产应予没收的假设基础之上。在制定附随程序成文法时，国会选择在附随程序中将举证责任置于第三方，是因为「美国在刑事案件中已经排除合理怀疑证明了其没收指控。」S. REP. 98-225, 209, 1984 U.S.C.C.A.N. 3182, 3392。\n\n29. 在本案中，从未就 2770 账户与被告王被指控（并已认罪答辩）的任何犯罪之间是否存在关联作出过判定；因此，请愿人被迫提交本请愿书。基于被告王与被告 Guo（郭文贵）刑事案件中所有公开文件所载的信息，政府对于 2770 账户的主张无法成立。\n\n30. 在本案中，在替代起诉书（Superseding Information）中，政府针对罪名项一和罪名项二均列入了没收指控，并寻求没收特定财产。替代起诉书第 4 页。记录中没有任何证据表明政府曾试图证明、更不用说已达到其证明责任来证明 2770 账户与被告王认罪的罪行之间存在关联。\n\n31. 关于罪名项一，没收指控称：「作为实施本替代起诉书罪名项一所指控的电汇诈骗罪的结果，被告 YVETTE WANG（王雁平），又名『Yanping』，又名『Y』，应依据《美国法典》第 18 编第 981(a)(1)(C) 条1……及《美国法典》第 28 编第 2461(c) 条，向美国没收构成或源自可追溯至实施上述罪行所得的任何及全部不动产与动产。」替代起诉书第 4 页。政府必须以优势证据证明 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(C) 项下的没收要素。18 U.S.C. § 983(c)(1)。此外，「如果政府的没收法理依据是该财产被用于实施或便利实施刑事犯罪，或参与了刑事犯罪的实施，则政府应证明该财产与该犯罪之间存在实质性联系。」18 U.S.C. § 983(c)(3)。\n\n32. 记录中没有任何关于 2770 账户中的资金如何构成可追溯至被告王共谋实施电汇诈骗的收益或源自该等收益的指控。替代起诉书指控：「至少约自 2018 年起至至少约 2023 年 3 月 15 日止，同谋者向投资者进行虚假陈述，称其对 GTV、Himalaya Farm Alliance（喜马拉雅农场联盟）组织以及 GClubs 的投资将换取股票，且其对 Himalaya Exchange（喜马拉雅交易所）的投资将换取加密货币[（下称『诈骗计划』）]。通过该[诈骗计划]，被告 YVETTE WANG（王雁平），又名『Yanping』，又名『Y』，与其同谋者（包括 Miles Guo（郭文贵））诱使投资者向郭控制的实体投资超过 10 亿美元。」替代起诉书第 2 页。替代起诉书中没有任何关于被告王将诈骗计划的任何收益存入 2770 账户的指控。同样，替代起诉书中也没有指控任何投资者因该诈骗计划而将资金存入 2770 账户。\n\n1 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(C) 规定：「任何不动产或动产，凡构成或源自可追溯至违反……各项特定罪行所得的收益[均应予以没收]」，包括违反 18 U.S.C. § 1343 电汇诈骗罪，即在罪名项一中针对被告王所指控的罪行。\n\n也不可能存在任何此类指控，因为存入 2770 账户的唯一款项来自投资 Digital Bank（数字银行）的投资者——而该项投资与替代起诉书中所述的「诈骗计划」没有任何牵连。诚然，请愿人确认：请愿人从未是被告王在替代起诉书中所指控之任何行为的受害者，且不认为请愿人的任何财产曾被用于任何非法活动。\n\n33. 最后，在被告郭的庭审期间，没有任何关于 2770 账户的相关证词。没有任何证词涉及诈骗计划的任何收益是否曾存入 2770 账户，而且就此而言，也没有证词涉及被告王是否曾将任何款项存入 2770 账户。简而言之，记录中没有任何内容表明 2770 账户与被告王的电汇诈骗指控之间存在关联，更没有充分的证据可以判定政府已达到其证明责任，以及法院已正当裁决没收 2770 账户所需的适当关联确实存在。\n\n34. 关于罪名项二，没收指控称：「作为实施本起诉书罪名项二所指控的洗钱罪的结果，被告 YVETTE WANG（王雁平），又名『Yanping』，又名『Y』，应依据《美国法典》第 18 编第 982(a)(1) 条2，向美国没收涉及上述罪行的任何及全部不动产与动产，或可追溯至该等财产的任何财产，包括但不限于代表涉及上述罪行之财产金额的某一美元数额款项。」替代起诉书第 4 页。关于罪名项二，政府「必须以优势证据证明 18 U.S.C. § 982(a)(1) 项下的没收要素。」U.S. v. Beltramea, 785 F.3d 287, 290 (8th Cir. 2015)。\n\n2 18 U.S.C. § 982(a)(1) 规定：「法院对被判犯有违反本编第 1956 条[洗钱成文法]之罪的人判处刑罚时……应命令该人向美国没收『涉及该罪行』的任何不动产或动产，或『可追溯至该等财产』的任何财产。」18 U.S.C. § 982(a)(1)（强调为后加）。\n\n35. 替代起诉书指控被告王犯有共谋洗钱罪，系因被告王「明知涉及某些金融交易的财产代表某种形式非法活动的收益，仍决意进行并实施以及企图进行该等金融交易……且该等交易实际上涉及特定非法活动的收益，即本起诉书罪名项一所指控之电汇诈骗计划的收益。」替代起诉书第 3 页。\n\n36. 目前尚不清楚 2770 账户何以能因罪名项二的洗钱指控而被没收。根据指控，洗钱指控源于被告王利用「罪名项一所指控之电汇诈骗计划的收益」从事金融交易。替代起诉书第 3 页。如上所述，没有任何证据表明 2770 账户中的资金与罪名项一指控的诈骗计划有任何关联（参见上文第 31-33 段）——没有任何证据表明该等资金「构成或源自可追溯至实施电汇诈骗所得的收益」。参见例如 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(C)。既然 2770 账户中的资金并非诈骗计划的收益，亦非源自诈骗计划的收益，则该等资金便不能作为罪名项二洗钱指控的事实依据，且不能作为被告王罪名项二定罪的一部分被予以没收。\n\n37. 政府指控用以支持洗钱罪名的公开行为（overt acts），进一步未能证明2770号账户（Account 2770）中的资金何以具备可没收性。在《替代起诉书》（Superseding Information）中，政府列出了证明洗钱的两项行为。见《替代起诉书》第3页。尽管政府称这两项公开行为是Defendant Wang（被告王雁平）为推进涉嫌的洗钱共谋而实施的“诸多行为之一”\n（《替代起诉书》第3页），但这些其他行为从未被指明。\n\n38. 首先，根据《替代起诉书》，2020年5月20日，被告王雁平以GTV名义开设了一个银行账户，值得注意的是，该账户绝非2770号账户。《替代起诉书》第3页。2020年6月2日，被告王雁平向该账户转账约2亿美元。同上。转入GTV账户的资金来自于Saraca Media Group, Inc.（“Saraca”，萨拉卡传媒集团公司）所持有的JP Morgan Chase Bank（摩根大通银行）账户（Guo Trial（郭案庭审），2024年5月31日，953:25-954:4；郭案庭审，2024年6月26日，4359:1-14），而非来自2770号账户。没有任何证词表明2770号账户中的任何款项曾流入Saraca的摩根大通银行账户并随后转入《替代起诉书》所引述的GTV账户。此外，2770号账户在2020年甚至根本不存在。\n\n39. 政府指控的第二项行为是“在2020年6月5日或该日前后”，被告王雁平“授权从GTV的母公司Saraca向一家高风险对冲基金电汇1亿美元，以谋取Saraca及其最终实益拥有人即Defendant Guo（被告郭文贵）之子的利益”。《替代起诉书》第3-4页。首先，这明确指控资金是从Saraca的账户转出的，而显而易见2770号账户并非该账户。并且，再次重申，没有任何证词表明2770号账户中的任何款项曾流入Saraca的账户。此外，再次需要强调的是，2770号账户在2020年甚至根本不存在。\n\n40. 从上述论述可以看出，根本没有任何关于2770号账户的指控或证词。记录中对2770号账户的唯一提及就是被告王雁平同意将其没收。然而，“被告同意没收并不废除拟没收财产与被定罪罪行之间必须存在关联性（nexus）这一要求”。Beltramea案，785 F.3d at 291。正如Eighth Circuit（第八巡回法院）所强调的那样，“地区法院负有独立职责去确保所要求的关联性存在”。同上（强调为后加）。\n\n41. 在本案中，在《替代起诉书》、原《没收令》（Original Forfeiture Order）或《没收令》（Forfeiture Order）中，均不存在任何哪怕是关于2770号账户与被告王雁平认罪的罪行之间涉嫌关联的事实指控。\n\n42. 政府在未能证明存在关联性的情况下继续扣留2770号账户中的资金，是不正当且不公正的。若政府扣留2770号账户中的资金，其将构成不当得利，因为这些资金属于第三方，包括Petitioner（请愿人），他们（1）不是被告王雁平或被告郭文贵；且（2）未参与欺诈计划（Fraud Scheme），更不用说作为该计划的受害者。参见如U.S. v. Bajakajian案，524 U.S. 321, 332 (1998)（阐明刑事“没收不具有补偿性目的，其旨在惩罚罪犯，且不能强加于无辜所有权人”）（强调为后加）。\n\nB. 请愿人对请愿人财产享有权益，因该等财产上存在拟制信托\n\n43. 即便撇开政府未能妥善证明2770号账户中的资金属于《替代起诉书》中所指控之任何活动的一部分不谈，请愿人财产（Petitioner's Property）也应当返还给请愿人，因为请愿人对该财产享有的权益高于被告王雁平、或如今承继其地位的政府所享有的权益。\n\n44. 根据拟制信托（constructive trusts）原则，无论存在任何其他所有权主张，包括被告王雁平或承继其地位的政府的主张，请愿人财产均受保护且仍为请愿人的财产。Second Circuit（第二巡回法院）[脚注3]已裁定，“在类比于21 U.S.C. § 853(n)(6)(A)的没收法律规范项下，拟制信托符合‘对该财产的合法权利、所有权或权益’，且‘可能优于’被告的权益”。Willis Mgmt. (Vermont), Ltd. v. United States案，652 F.3d 236, 242 (2d Cir. 2011)。\n\n45. “拟制信托是一种衡平法救济，为实现其目的必然具有灵活性”。Counihan v. Allstate Ins. Co.案，194 F.3d 357, 361 (2d Cir. 1999)（强调为后加）。“其目的在于防止不当得利，尽管不当得利并不必然涉及不法行为的实施……必要的是法院认定某一方持有财产的情形根据衡平法和良知其不应予以保留”。同上（内部引文省略）。\n\n46. “一方是否构成不当得利是通过适用衡平法原则得出的法律结论……衡平法院在判定拟制信托时不受任何死板公式的约束。交易的衡平性必须决定救济的尺度……当一人保留了一项利益，而根据转让时的具体情况并考量各方之间的关系，保留该利益是不公正的时，即构成不当得利”。同上（内部\n\n[脚注3]“联邦普通法的法律适用规则是适用对诉讼具有最重大利益的司法管辖区的法律”。In re Koreag, Controle et Revision S.A.案，961 F.2d 341, 350 (2d Cir. 1992)，部分维持原判，别名Refco F/X Assocs., Inc. v. Mebco Bank, S.A.案，No. 89 CIV. 3071 (WK), 1992 WL 200748 (S.D.N.Y. July 31, 1992)。在本案中，有三个竞争管辖区的法律可供适用：New York（纽约州）、California（加利福尼亚州）和Cayman Islands（开曼群岛）。请愿人对请愿人财产的支付是依据《认购协议》（Subscription Agreement）进行的，该协议受开曼群岛法律管辖。见证物B（Exhibit B），《认购协议》第8页第2(s)段。在请愿人存入请愿人财产时，2770号账户是加利福尼亚州某银行的一个账户。由于2770号账户已被扣押（依据纽约州某法院签发的搜查和扣押令），该等资金目前由位于纽约的政府占有。纽约是本案的法院地州。根据这些事实，纽约对本诉讼具有最重大利益，其法律应适用于拟制信托的设定。然而，在政府对该法律适用决定提出异议的范围内，请愿人保留请求本法院根据加利福尼亚州和/或开曼群岛法律对请愿人财产设定拟制信托的一切权利。\n\n引文省略）。\n\n47. New York Court of Appeals（纽约州上诉法院）概述了在确定某些情况下是否应设定拟制信托时应考量的若干因素，包括“(1) 保密或信义关系，(2) 允诺，(3) 基于该允诺而进行的转让，以及 (4) 不当得利”。Sharp v. Kosmalski案，40 N.Y.2d 119, 121 (1976)。然而，纽约州各法院长期以来一直认为“这些因素仅仅是有用的指引，而非具有魔力的符咒”。Counihan案，194 F.3d at 362（引用了大量阐述该观点的纽约州判例）。\n\n48. 在本案中，自请愿人财产被存入2770号账户之日起，该等财产上即存在以为请愿人谋利益的拟制信托。\n\n49. 请愿人在签署《认购协议》以收购Hamilton M&A Fund SP的若干B类股份时，与Hamilton Opportunity Fund建立了保密和/或信义关系[脚注4]。根据《认购协议》，Hamilton Opportunity Fund SPC向请愿人作出允诺，请愿人财产将投资于Digital Bank（数字银行）。基于对该允诺的信赖，请愿人按照《认购协议》的指示将请愿人财产电汇至2770号账户。政府对2770号账户的不当扣押，迫使Hamilton Opportunity Fund SPC违背了将请愿人财产投资于数字银行的允诺。由于政府的扣押，请愿人甚至无法行使其赎回权（Right of Redemption）以取回请愿人财产。这将\n\n[脚注4] 即使法院认定Hamilton Opportunity Fund与请愿人之间不存在保密关系和/或信义关系，该认定也不具有决定性，因为缺乏信义关系并不妨碍法院认定存在拟制信托。参见Koreag案，961 F.2d at 353（指出“然而，我们不认为（各方之间）缺乏信义关系会自动击败拟制信托的主张。虽然信义关系是纽约州各法院引述的因素之一，但缺乏任何单一因素本身并不会在衡平法另有要求时击败拟制信托的设定”）。\n\n导致政府获得不当得利，因为政府目前在没有任何合法理由的情况下保留着请愿人财产。参见如U.S. v. Coluccio案，51 F.3d 337, 340 (2nd Cir. 1995)（认定在政府的没收导致了对默示允诺的违反等情形下，设定拟制信托是正当的）；Torres v. $36,256.80 U.S. Currency案，25 F.3d 1154, 1159 (2d Cir. 1994)（认定在“政府的没收迫使该允诺被违反，从而可能导致政府潜在的不当得利（以及原告相应的非正当受损）”的情况下，拟制信托是恰当的）。\n\n50. 因此，请愿人已证明应当对请愿人财产设定拟制信托。在类比于21 U.S.C. § 853(n)(6)(A)的没收法律规范项下，此种拟制信托“符合‘对该财产的合法权利、所有权或权益’，且‘可能优于’被告的权益”。Willis案，652 F.3d at 242。\n\n51. 寻求设立拟制信托所指向的财产——即请愿人财产——是极易追溯的。见证物C（Exhibit C）。\n\n52. 此外，即使政府主张其他主体亦应从任何被没收的财产中获得赔偿，设定拟制信托对于请愿人而言仍是完全适用的。“当一方可以直接追溯其资产而无需借助拟制或推定手段时，即便在涉及多名欺诈受害者的案件中，拟制信托依然适用”。U.S. v. Ovid案，2012 WL 2087084, *7 (E.D.N.Y., Jun. 8, 2012)。“当权利人可以直接追溯其财产时，法院无权忽视拟制信托法，即便这会使得一名无辜受害者获得优于另一名同等无辜受害者的地位”。同上。在涉及多名受害者的欺诈案件中，“正统的做法”是“将可识别的资产返还给其所有权人，只有在无法进行特定识别或交易追溯时，才转而采用按比例分配”。同上，第*8页（引用《侵权法重述（第三版）：赔偿与不当得利》（Restatement (Third) of Restitution & Unjust Enrichment）第59节报告人附注G，第437页）。\n\nC. 请愿人对请愿人财产享有优先权益\n\n53. 请愿人对请愿人财产所享有的权益，绝对优于政府或被告王雁平对请愿人财产可能享有的任何权益。\n\n54. 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)明确规定，除证明请愿人对被没收财产享有权益外，请愿人还必须以优势证据（preponderance of the evidence）证明请愿人的权益“使得没收令全部或部分无效，因为在该导致财产依本条被没收的行为发生之时，该权利、所有权或权益归属于请愿人而非被告，或者优于被告的任何权利、所有权或权益”。21 U.S.C. § 853(n)(6)(A)（强调为后加）。\n\n55. 在本案中，如上所述，被告 Wang（王）从未在请愿人财产或 2770 账户中拥有任何权益；事实上，记录中完全没有提及被告 Wang、欺诈计划与 2770 账户之间存在何种关系。\n\n56. 显而易见的是，政府和被告 Wang 均不能主张他们对一项从未拥有过权益的财产享有优先权益。同样，被告 Wang 也无法没收其本就不享有任何权益的财产中的权益。\n\nD. 请愿人有权获得诉讼费用和律师费\n\n57. 请愿人被迫聘请法律顾问并承担了费用以提起本请愿书，主张请愿人对请愿人财产的权利并对没收请愿人财产提出质疑。在本程序中胜诉后，请愿人保留收回与本请愿书相关的律师费和诉讼费用的全部权利，并可根据 Equal Access to Justice Act（《司法平等待遇法》，“EAJA”），28 U.S.C. § 2412，收回请愿人的诉讼费用和合理律师费。联邦法院一贯认定，出于允许胜诉主张人根据 EAJA 收取律师费的目的，§ 853(n) 程序属于民事程序。参见 United States v. Cox，575 F.3d 352, 355 (4th Cir. 2009)；United States v. Douglas，55 F.3d 584, 588 (11th Cir. 1995)；U.S. v. Bailey，2015 WL 1893610 at *20 (W.D.N.C. Apr. 27, 2015)。\n\nIV. 结论\n\n58. 基于上述理由，请愿人对请愿人财产享有权益，这使得没收裁定就该等财产而言无效。参见例如 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)(6)(A)。被告 Wang 对请愿人财产不享有任何权利、所有权或权益，且从未享有过。请愿人已经以优势证据证明，并可在任何必要的听证会上证明，没收裁定需要进行修改以排除请愿人财产。\n\n59. 因此，请愿人谨请求本法院：(1) 准予本请愿书；(2) 修改没收裁定以排除请愿人财产；(3) 命令立即将请愿人财产归还给请愿人；(4) 裁定请愿人有权收回请愿人因本请愿书而发生的律师费和诉讼费用，并准许请愿人提交该等律师费和诉讼费用的申请；以及 (5) 准予必要且公正的其他救济。\n\n日期：2025年4月2日\n\n日期：2025年4月2日 谨此提交，\n\n/s/ Jeffrey S. Gavenman\nJeffrey S. Gavenman 律师\nJeremy W. Schulman 律师\nSCHULMAN BHATTACHARYA, LLC\n6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 425\nNorth Bethesda, MD 20852\n(240) 356-8550\njgavenman@schulmanbh.com\njschulman@schulmanbh.com\n\n/s/ Paul W. Butler\nPaul W. Butler 律师\nBUTLER LEGAL STRATEGIES\n1201 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 531\nWashington, D.C. 20036\npaul@butlerlegalstrategies.com\n请愿人代理律师\n\n证明与宣誓\n\n根据 21 U.S.C. § 853(n)(3)，本人 ___ 在受伪证罪处罚的原则下证明并声明，本人对该财产的主张并非无理缠诉，且据本人所知所信，为支持该主张而提供的信息均属真实准确。\n\n于 2025年4月2日 签署\n\n签名","key_entities":["forfeiture","Guo","Je","853(n)","Saraca","GTV","Gavenman","Miles Guo","Himalaya","William Je","Torres","Himalaya Exchange"],"ecf_references":[{"doc_number":2,"court":"SDNY"},{"doc_number":325,"court":"SDNY"},{"doc_number":329,"court":"SDNY"},{"doc_number":395,"court":"SDNY"},{"doc_number":488,"court":"SDNY"}],"word_count":5979,"status":"published","published_at":"2025-04-04 00:00:00","created_at":"2025-04-04","updated_at":"2026-08-23 07:49:15"}