Forfeiture

Judge Ho Exercises Discretion to Deny Government’s Bond for Seized Luxury Superyacht Upkeep Costs

By Julie Lascano on July 21, 2025

On Wednesday, Judge Ho denied the government’s motion for a cost bond pending appeal in a civil asset forfeiture case against defendant-in-rem the M/Y Amadea, a 348-foot luxury superyacht purportedly owned by a Russian national subject to economic sanctions. Since seizing the superyacht, the government has spent approximately $32 million on transportation, maintenance and storage, and now seeks bond for approximately $25 million in incurred taxable costs. In related proceedings, the claimants have appealed the forfeiture of the Amadea, and the government estimates that the appeal will take approximately one year and incur another $10 million in taxable costs.Continue Reading Judge Ho Exercises Discretion to Deny Government’s Bond for Seized Luxury Superyacht Upkeep Costs

U.S. Attorney Announces Successful Return of Rare “Inverted Jenny” Postage Stamp

By Michael Keough on June 6, 2016

Last week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced that one of the world’s rarest postage stamps has been returned to its rightful owner after 60 years. The “Inverted Jenny” stamp, printed in 1918 to commemorate the first airmail flight on a Curtiss Jenny biplane, was accidentally printed with the…

Default Judgment Leads to Forfeiture in U.S. Attorney’s Successful Pursuit of Tyrannosaurus Skull

By Michael Keough on April 14, 2016

Yesterday, Judge Oetken entered a default judgment against one Tyrannousaurus bataar skull, marking a successful end to the U.S. Attorney’s forfeiture action against the skull. The original complaint alleged that the skull was cultural property stolen from Mongolia and sought to return it.

Our previous coverage of the case is here.

U.S. Attorney Files Suit Against Tyrannosaurus Skull

By Michael Keough on December 18, 2015

The U.S. Attorney’s Office filed this week an asset forfeiture action against a Tyrannosaurus bataar skull. The skull, found in the Gobi Desert in Mongolia and dating from the Cretaceous period 65 million years ago, was sold at an auction in New York in 2007 for $276,000. The complaint alleges that the skull is cultural …

Charles MichaelPartner

Charles Michael is an accomplished commercial litigator who resolutely defends clients in high stakes disputes and arbitrations. He is also experienced in regulatory and criminal…

Charles Michael is an accomplished commercial litigator who resolutely defends clients in high stakes disputes and arbitrations. He is also experienced in regulatory and criminal investigations, and represents clients under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Gilana KellerAssociate

Gilana Keller focuses her practice on complex litigation matters with a focus on insurance and reinsurance matters and commercial litigation. Gilana represents companies in insurance…

Gilana Keller focuses her practice on complex litigation matters with a focus on insurance and reinsurance matters and commercial litigation. Gilana represents companies in insurance and reinsurance disputes, pending in state and federal court and before arbitration panels. These disputes have included representation of a leading life insurance carrier in arbitrations against reinsurers involving yearly renewable term (YRT) life reinsurance agreements and environmental insurance coverage.

Julie LascanoAssociate

Julie Wilson Lascano maintains a broad-based commercial litigation practice, representing public and private companies in all stages of litigation before state and federal courts. Her…

Julie Wilson Lascano maintains a broad-based commercial litigation practice, representing public and private companies in all stages of litigation before state and federal courts. Her varied experience includes antitrust, IP, employment, product liability, and civil class action matters, as well as internal investigations and post-investigation compliance. Julie has represented clients across a broad array of industries, including in the financial services, logistics and energy sectors.

Active in her pro bono practice, Julie has represented clients in domestic violence, criminal justice, LGBTQ+, and housing matters, including a successful claim against a landlord that resulted in significant housing repairs for her client. During law school, she also participated in Texas Law’s Environmental Clinic.

Meghan NewcomerOf Counsel

Meghan Newcomer is an accomplished litigator who focuses her practice on complex civil litigation, white-collar criminal defense, and government and internal investigations. Meghan competently navigates clients through complex commercial disputes in both state and federal court and in arbitration proceedings. She skillfully handles all phases of litigation, from managing broad discovery to drafting dispositive motions, always focused on achieving the best outcome for her clients. On the criminal side, Meghan has substantial trial experience defending individuals in white-collar criminal matters and has participated in multiple criminal trials in federal court. Meghan also has experience representing clients in high-stakes investigations by the US Department of Justice and the New York State Attorney General’s Office.

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SDNY Blog

Forfeiture

Judge Ho Exercises Discretion to Deny Government’s Bond for Seized Luxury Superyacht Upkeep Costs

U.S. Attorney Announces Successful Return of Rare “Inverted Jenny” Postage Stamp

Default Judgment Leads to Forfeiture in U.S. Attorney’s Successful Pursuit of Tyrannosaurus Skull

U.S. Attorney Files Suit Against Tyrannosaurus Skull

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