United States v. $500,000 in U.S. Currency

ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART APPLICATION FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL IN CIVIL FORFEITURE PROCEEDINGS

Rodney Scott Shehyn (“Shehyn”) has filed an application for appointment of counsel to represent him in the above-entitled civil forfeiture actions. The Court held a hearing on Shehyn’s application on June 30, 2003. For the reasons discussed below, Shehyn’s application is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.

I. BACKGROUND

Shehyn is one of the defendants in the criminal case United States v. Levine, et al., 01cr1415 BTM. The indictment in the Levine case alleges that Shehyn and 19 other defendants participated in an “Enterprise,” which violated federal law in connection with the telemarketing of “high-tech,” telecommunieations-related investment offerings. According to the Indictment, Shehyn was a member of the Enterprise from approximately June 1995 through approximately December 1996.

Shehyn was arrested by the FBI on May 21, 2001 at the San Francisco Inter national Airport. On or about June 28, 2001, following detention hearings, the United States and Shehyn stipulated to a $500,000 appearance bond, eo-signed by Shehyn’s daughter, Audrey Shehyn, and son-in-law,…