Pubdate: Fri, 31 Aug 2001
Source: Concord Monitor (NH)
Copyright: 2001 Monitor Publishing Company
Contact:  http://www.cmonitor.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/767
Author: Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/af.htm (Asset Forfeiture)

FEDS USING DRUG LAWS TO SEIZE SOUTHERN N.H. PROPERTY

CONCORD, N.H. - A Windham man has become the latest target in a 
series of federal drug forfeiture cases in southern New Hampshire.

Prosecutors this week filed a sealed complaint against Timothy 
Bishop, attaching his home and several other properties, vehicles and 
assets.

No criminal charges have been filed against Bishop. He has an 
unlisted phone number and could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jean Weld said she could not comment on the 
case but said, "all this stuff should be public within a matter of 
weeks."

Previously, Weld had filed forfeiture claims in U.S. District Court 
against several other Nashua area businessmen.

One complaint alleges the owner of Sharpshooter Billiards, Francis 
Calaguiro of Nashua, was involved in cocaine dealing, video gambling 
and money laundering through his business.

The complaint also says Rick Stoddard of Nashua was involved in drug 
dealing on his own and with Calaguiro. According to the complaint, 
undercover agents bought cocaine from Calaguiro several times.

Prosecutors have filed forfeiture claims against various properties, 
including the business, Stoddard's and Calaguiro's homes, and 
assorted vehicles and financial assets. However, Sharpshooter 
Billiards remains open for business while the case is pending.

Another forfeiture case was unsealed this month, but the complaint 
remains sealed, so no information is available about the government's 
allegations. That case targeted Michael Gingras and Bruce Brouillard 
of Nashua; Greg and Rebecca Wheeler of Litchfield, Douglas Cox of 
Hampton; and Samuel Bellavance, address unknown. Weld declined to 
comment whether prosecutors expect to file criminal charges against 
any of them.

However, she noted prosecutors rarely pursue forfeitures without 
bringing criminal charges, though federal law allows them to do so.

Forfeiture, she said, "basically allows us to tie the property up. 
Otherwise, there wouldn't be anything left" by the time charges were 
filed.

Federal law allows the government to seize any property used in drug 
dealing, or property or assets bought with drug dealing proceeds.

The government can seize property without criminal charges and needs 
to show only by a "preponderance of the evidence," a much lower legal 
standard of proof than in criminal cases, that the property was 
involved in drug dealing.

In Bishop's case, the government has filed claims against his home in 
Windham, and what appear to be rental properties in Windham, and 
Lowell and Chelmsford, Mass.

The government also filed claims on various bank and investment 
accounts, as well as three cars, one pickup truck and two motorcycles.
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