The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Guam and the CNMI has publicly noticed the forfeiture of assets condemned by the federal court on September 29, 2022, when a jury convicted John D. Walker of more than 100 counts of federal crimes involving Hansen Helicopters. Mr. Walker was the president of the company.
Aside from nearly $5 million the feds seized from bank accounts in Guam and Missouri, the U.S. Attorneys Office intends to dispose of five Federal Aviation Administration-registered helicopters, and one non-FAA-registered helicopter as the U.S. Attorney General sees fit.
Normally, non-cash assets forfeited to the federal government that the U.S. government decides not to use for its purposes are auctioned to the general public. Those auctions, at least in Guam’s experience, are administered by the U.S Marshals Service.
The notice from the U.S. Attorney’s Office about Mr. Walker’s former assets does not say what the U.S. Attorney General has decided about these helicopters. That decision will be made after 60 days from January 24, 2023. Read the following excerpt for context:
“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 (January 24, 2023) 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). The ancillary petition must be filed with the Clerk of the Court, 4TH FLOOR, U.S. COURTHOUSE, 520 WEST SOLEDAD AVENUE, HAGATNA, GU 96910, and a copy served upon Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Wessling, SUITE 500, SIRENA PLAZA, 108 HERNAN CORTEZ AVENUE, HAGATNA, GU 96910. The ancillary petition shall be signed by the petitioner under penalty of perjury and shall set forth the nature and extent of the petitioner’s right, title or interest in the forfeited property, the time and circumstances of the petitioner’s acquisition of the right, title and interest in the forfeited property and any additional facts supporting the petitioner’s claim and the relief sought, pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 853(n).
“Following the Court’s disposition of all ancillary petitions filed, or if no such petitions are filed, following the expiration of the period specified above for the filing of such ancillary petitions, the United States shall have clear title to the property and may warrant good title to any subsequent purchaser or transferee.
The full forfeiture notice follows:
