1:21-cv-23190•Marron et al v. Maduro Moros et al
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR TltE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA M iam iDivision : CaseNum ber:21-23190-CIW M ORENO CAREOSEDUARDO M ARRON,M AIUA M ARI RON,c. k. ,aminor,ands. A.,aminor, Plaintiffs, VS. x lco cA s M xo u Ro M oR , os Fu sltzA s Altv xoA s M v ocu clox v os D B col-o= l , A CA RTEL oF TlIB s , IJx s vl-AolvlRfAoltm o LopBz,MAIA L JosE M QRENI) PBRE , z NEsrroR Luls REvsRol-To- , s TXREK WILLIAM sxxB,andTARECItBLAlssAu , D efendmlts. . . / ' ) . ' ORDER GRANTING M OTIONS TO DISSOLVE W RITS OF GARNISHM XNT. DENYING ASM OOT M OTIONSTO OUASH SUBPOENAS AND GRANTW G PLM NTIFF'SMOTION TO AM ENP ' .. ' ' ' ' Plaintiffsfiled m otionsform 'itsofgam ishm entand execution forthe fm atwialassetsof. 1 , w . ' RaulGonin Belisario and Gustavo Adolfo Perdom o Rokales,whom Plaintiffs claim are ag'ents and instrum entalities of the Defendants,Nicolas M aduro M oros,Tareck E1Aissami,and the . . ' Cartelofthe Suns,judgmentdebtors in this case.Underthe Terrorism Risk V stlrance Act, Plaintiffs can recover agàinstasseté of an agent and insttum entality of a defendantwhere the assetsareblockedbytheUni tedStatesOfficeofForeignAssetControl(OFAC).OFAC blocked . ' Gorrin and Perdom o'sassetsin théUnited Sfates,butitalso issued a licenseto D .E.W ilson,Jr. ' - t ofthe 1aw 111, 1 1Lnnkford & Reed,PLLC,to manage and cpntro therçalproperty thatisthe subjectofthewritsofexecution.Propert #subjecttoanOFAC license,suchasisthecasehere,is . ' Case 1:21-cv-23190-FAM Document 460 Entered on FLSD Docket 02/19/2026 Page 1 of 16
notrecèverablè underTRIA and forthisreason,the Courtdissolvesthewritsofexecution issued , by the Clerk of Cotut At oral argum ent, M r.W ilson's counsel advised that he sold twp i Collinj Avenue and another in Fisher Island Vlorida and he stated.M r. propertes,one on , , W ilson,the licensee, intends to d. epositthe proceeds from ihose sales into a blockeé bank he aysjhe feeà and costsgssociated with the sales.P' ertie ticense tG any taxek, Accountonce p çosts,orlegal,administrative orothei' feesthatarenecessary and incidel)tto thesale ofalzf of . . . . . '' é idb M. r w ilson asihelicenkee whoàhallthent:lacetheremainder theproperties areto.b pa y . , p . in a blocked accotmt.'''OFAC License (ECF 425-1).Plqintiffsmay renew theirmotion asto . ' ' . . those fundsonce Mr.W ilson depositsthosemot liesinto ablocked accountsubjectto à,TRIA recovely.M r.W ilspn shallpromptly advise Plaintiffs Jzpozidepositillg the funds into a blocked. ''' ' . '''' ' '''' -' ' . % . . ' ' .( accotmt. Asidrâom thewritsofexeèution thataredirected atrealproperty subjecttotheOFAC license,theClerkofCoqrtàlso issuedam itofjarnishmentastoPerdomo'sftmdsinaVeacpast ) ,.. . '' Bnnk Acdotmt.Consistentwith this Court'spriörorders ih tllis case,the Cotu'talso grantsthe . ' . . ' . o ' motion to dissolvethiswritofgnl mlshmentbecausethçrçhasnötbeen adetermination (prima facie or otherwise)by thisCourtthatPerdomo ismlagentorinstrumentality ofM admo,E1 Aissnmi,orihe Caitelofthe Stpj.Plaintiffsmay file a renewed motion as to those ftmds, . ' . ' includizig briefng on whétherthe Courtmày issuethewritbased on aprimafacieshowing of Perdom o's role as an agent or instrumentality.Perdom o m ay then respond to the motion and , .' include briefm g on whether a prim a facie showing is silffieientfor issuance ofthe wzit.The ,. partiesshallalsolileaproposed.scheduleforadjudication ofthematter.Accordingly,itis Case 1:21-cv-23190-FAM Document 460 Entered on FLSD Docket 02/19/2026 Page 2 of 16
ADJUDGED thatthemotionsto dissolvethem its(ECF 347,348,453)areGRANTED assetforth in thisOrder,Thewritsofgarnishmentand execution (ECF 323-328;336-337)are dissolved in accordance w ith tllisOrder.Itisalso ADJUDGE; D thatthe motionsto quash the subpoena (ECF,398,399)are DENIED as m oot,with leaveto renew ifappropriate.Itisalso ADJUDGED thatPlaintiff'smotion to amend motions forwrits ofgarnishment(ECF 412)isGRXNTED toallow correctii m ofçitations. 1. Background Plaintiffsfiled flliscaseqgainsttheDefendants,including NicolasM aduro,Tareck E1 Aissnmiandthe Cartelofthe Stm s,alleging violationsoftheFederalAnti--fbrrorism A ct,18 U.S.C.j2333;theFloridaAntiuTerrorism Act,Fla.Stat.jt72.13,FederalCivilRICO,18 ' U.S.C.j 1964(c),ConspiracytoViolateFederalCivilRICO,18U.S.C.j1962(d),andseveral . ' state-law claimsbasedontheDefendants'orchestratingthçkidnapling,totture,anddefnmation ofPlaitltiffcarlosM arron,the extortion ofPlaintiffM ariaM arron,andthe iùfliction of em otionaldistresson allPlaintiffs.. On Februaty 14,2023,thisCourtawarded Plaintiffsafi . né1 judgmentinthenmolmtof$153,843,976. AfterobtainipgthejudgmentgPlaiptiffscommdncedcollectionproceedingsunderthe . ; Terrorism ltiskInsl zranceActITRIAI.Seej201(a)oftheTerrorism RiskInslzranceActof2002, j ' . Pub. L.No.107-297,j201(a),116 Stat.2337,2339.UnderTIUA,terrorism victimssuchasthe Plaintiffsmay satisfytheirjudgmentfrom propez' tyblockedbyUnited StatesDepartmentof TreasuryOffkeofForeignAssetControl(OFAC).TRIA providesarightofactiontorecover againstblocked property owned by an Agentorinstnlmentality ofatelw ristorterrorist 1Thisprovisioniscoditiedasanoteto28U.S.C.j1610titledtt-l-rea% entofTerroristAsseis.'' Case 1:21-cv-23190-FAM Document 460 Entered on FLSD Docket 02/19/2026 Page 3 of 16
orgnnization.z ThisCoul' tpreviously allowedPlaintiffs,whoarejudgmentcreditorsattllis jtmctureofthecase,torecoveragainstassetsofSnmarkLopezBello,whoseFloridaassetswere blockedbytheOfficeofForeignAssetControl.Atsummatyjudgment,theCourtfotmdthat Lopez Bello isan agentorinstnzmentallty ofone oftheDefendantsin thiscase,Tareck E1- A lssnm l. Plaintiffsal' enow seeking torecoveragainsttwo otherindividualsand thèiirelated entities.TheindividualsareRaulGordn Belismio and Gustavo Adolfo Perdom oRosales,whom Plaintiffsclaim areagentsand instram entalitiesoftheDefendantsNicolasM adtlro M oros, Tareck E1Aisjnm i,andtheCarteloftheStms.To thatend,Plaintiffsfiled amotion forwritof gnrnishmentastofnndsofRaulGonin Belisariodepojited intheCourtregistry(E 'CF 318)3and amotionforwritofexecutionastoGorrin'srealproperty(ECF 322).4TheGnrnl ' sheesareD.E. W ilson,Jr.Esq.and thefinu Lnnkford & Reed PLLC.Plaintiffsalso filed am otion forWz'itof execution forrealproperty andm otion forwritofgam ishm entforthefinancialassetsof.Gustavo AdolfoPerdomoRosales.(ECF 334).ThegnrnisheeisSeacoastBnnk.5TheClerkissuedthe writsautomaticallywithoutapriorOrderoftlt isCourt.Eightwritsarecurrently atissue.(ECF ' 323-328, .336-337).RaulGoninBetisario,GustavoPerdomo.deRosales,andtheirrelated 2j201ofTlUA readsasfollows: Notwithstandinganyotherprovisionoflaw,andexceptasprovidedinsubsection (b),inevery caseinwhichapersonhasobtpinedajudgmentagainstaterroristpartyonaclaim baseduponan actofterrorism,orforwhichatrrroristpartyisnotimmtmeundersection1605(a)(7)oftitle28, UnitedStatesCode,theblockedassetsofthatterroristparty(includingtheblocedassetsofany ageniyorinstrllmentalityofthattetrpristpartylshallbesubjed toexecutionorattachmentinaid ofexecutioninordertosatisfysuchjudgmenttotheextentofanycompensatory.damagesfor whichsuchterroristpartyhasbeenadjudgedliable. 3rfnheClerkissuedthewritofgarnishment(ECF 319),whichwasdirectedattheCom'tRegistry.TheClerkofCoul't latervacatedthiswrit(ECF 333)asinappropriatelygranted. 4'rheClerk issuedwritsofexecutionastoGorrin'sRbalProperties:4100 Salzedo Street,Unit913,CoralGables, FL (esthnatedvalue$688,700),4100SalzedoStreet,Unit813,CoralGables,FL (estimatedvalue$646,700),4100 SalzedoStreet,Unit807,CoralGables,FL (estimatedvalue$611,500),4100SalzedoSkeet,Unit608,Coral Gables,FL (estimatedvalue$560,200),4100SalzedoSkeet,Unit1010,CoralOables,FL (estimatedvalue $674,800),144IslaDoradaBlvd.,CoralGables,FL(estimatedvalue$8,099,510).SeeECF 323-328. 5TheC. lerk issued.awritofgamishmentastoPerdomo'sfundsinaSeacoastBankacçount.(ECF 336).'FheClerk issued awritofexecution astotherealproperty at4100 SalzedoSkeet//804,CoralGables,FL 33146beingheldby MagusHolding,LLC (estimatedvalue$670,100)(ECF337). Case 1:21-cv-23190-FAM Document 460 Entered on FLSD Docket 02/19/2026 Page 4 of 16
entities6filed an OmnibusM otion toDissolve, Vacate,andQuashW ritsofGnrnishmentand
W ritsofExecution. TheGnrnisheepftheGorrin m itsisD .E.W ilson,Jr.ofthe1aw 51411
Lanldbrd & Reed,alsom oved ford.issolution ofthewritsaddressed to him .
A.Background on Gorrin (ynPerdom o
Therelationship ofGorrin and Perdom o to theDefendantsisrelevantto the
determination ofwhetherthey areindeed agentjandinstrlmentalitiesoftheM adtlro,E1
Aissam i,and theCarteloftheSuns- thatisa determination the Courtwillm ake laterin this
rti ' ' llegationsofagencyand proceeding.TheCoult neve eless,exnmlnesPlaintiffs a
('
instrum entality.OFAC designated Gorrin undertheVene> elasaqctionsprogrnm becausehe
played acentralrolein Venezuelan regim e-sponsored cufrency controlschemes.Plaintiffsallege
thattllrough theçurrency eontrolscam ,Gorrin supported theCartelofthe Sun'smoney
laundering ofproceedsfrom narcotrafficldng,provided lootfortheM aduro regim eto m aintain
. '
itsautholitat'ian gt'ip on Venezuelaand continuecrim inalactivity with im plnity,andpersonally
enrichedDefendantsM aduro,M oreno Perez,and Tareck E1Aissami.
Farah (ExpertonM adtlroReghne)(ECF 318-1at8).
SçeDecl.ofDotklas
OIW C alsodesignatedPerdom o forlaisrolein Venezuelan money laundering activity.
Plaintiffsassertthisactivityprovided supporttp M adtlro,the CarteloftheStms,and thè
IndividualDefendantsirltlliscase:Plaintiffs'expezt DouglasFarah,statesthatPerdom o
laundered m ohey âom cocainesalesfortheCartelofthe Suns,prôvided loottotheM aduro
regim etom aintain itsauthprity and continueitscrildinalactivity,and personally endched
DefendantsM aduro,M orenoPerez,andTareckE1Aissnmi.SeeDecl.ofDouglasFarah(Expel ' t
on VaduioRegime)(ECF334-1at8).
6Therelated entitiesare:R.IM Group Investm entsCop .,RIM Group Investm entsICol'p.,ll1M Group lnvesM ents
11Cop .,lUM GroupInvestments111,Co1'p.,MagusHoldingLLC,MagusHolding11Corp.,andli1M Group
Investmenis1Corp.
Case 1:21-cv-23190-FAM Document 460 Entered on FLSD Docket 02/19/2026 Page 5 of 16BothGorrinandPerdomoownpropertiesinFlorida,Fhich aresubjectofthewritsof ekecution.In addition?an entity affiliated with Perdom o,M agusHolding 11Corp.,hasan ZCCOWDIY SCZCOZX R/llkWith$3,179,825. 03.(ECF 448). i # ' j/ B. Backgroun on D .E.J'F son ' r*' . ' . . . .y . . . . ' . The Gon'in aqd Perdom opropertiesin theUnited Statesare currently managedby D .E. W ilson,Jr.ofthelaw fiim Lankford.& Reed PLLC ptlrsuantto OFAC SpeclqlLicenseNo.. ' ' ' -- .. ' 'W ' . ' . ' ' ' .. . #enew ela-EO13850r2ù' 19-359725-10.(ECF421-1j ..TheOFAClicensepermitjD.E.W ilsonto tu . . . (j. 11 . engagein a11activitiesordinadlyincidentàndneçessazy tocontinuçtomN ageandmainana . . .. . . ' . . . ', . ' . . . oftheblocked propertidsand chattelj...owned by Raul . BùlisarioGorrin ândGustavoPerdomö, . . ' . . personswhosepropert yandipterestsinpropertyâreblöckedjmrsuari ttoExecutiveOrder , i 138501(.( 1'' . . , .. . ThelicenséeD .2.W ilson,Jr.isa graduateofGeorgktown Làw in 1.976.M r.W ilson. servedattheU.S.R qasuryDepnrtmentasActipjGeneralCuunsel,DeputyGeneralCotmseland . .. . . ' ' ' . . ' ' . ' . . ' '' - ' PrincipafDeputyAssistpntSecretaryforM anagement.HealsoservedasActingDirectorof L OFA C.Hewasresponjible fortheOFAC portfolio wlzileserving asAssociate Cotm selto the, e . . ' ' . ' . . . ' . . . . ' ' , Presidentin 1981-1983.'.HealsoselvçdasGeneralCotmsel,' UfficeofthùPrestdent.Heis . ' . ' ' . tl inprivatejraç 'tkeatLnnkfordandReel PLic.inVirginia.Decl.ofD.E.W ilsop(ECF' Ctln' en y , 347-3).' ' f1D E WilsopstatesthatstartinginVày2020 OFA/issuedten Inllijdeclayatio , . . . , , . . , . . . . . . ( consecutive specific liçenseseytendirig to M arch 15,202. 7.ThelicensesqredirdctedtoW llson's . . . L. : attehtion asthe attorlley who applied forthem . The License inèludesal1property ofG on'in and j PerdomowithintheUnited tatesorom wdorpossessedbyU.S.peysons.Hestatesthat. Tl l pltlrsuanttothelicense,1havetheauthoritytoengage'inpllqctivitièsbrdinarily incidentand Case 1:21-cv-23190-FAM Document 460 Entered on FLSD Docket 02/19/2026 Page 6 of 16
ùecessarytocontinuetomanageandmaintain a11ofthelicensedprppertksandchattels(such as vessels,vehicles,and aircraft l. ''16LHeisalsolicensedtorepresentthepropertiesirllitigationas addressed in Executive Order13850.Underthelicense,'hehagtheGtauthority to sell,transfer, ih thelw ise encllm berthelicensed property and am actively'involved in m arketing dealwi , or o andsalesactikitiest''1d.Hesaysthatheplanstos8l1theFloridamalestateatissueinthewrits. Therealestatehasbeen accrtlingtax liabilitiesand condominillm sandhom eowner'sassociation fees. Thesuccessf'ulsale oftherealestatewillstop thèadverseimpacton the ètherownersof thecondom inillm associâtionsandwillpreservethevalue ofthe OFA c-licensed realty for OFA C'Sforeignpolicy purposes.I6l M r.W ilson statesthàthewasintheprocessofusing proceedsfrom the sale ofcertain OlW c-licensedrealestate(i. e.aFisherIslandpropertyandaCollinsAvenueproperty)topay outstanding expenses,costs,legal,adm irlistrativeand otherfeesthatWere incidentto thesale beforeplacing therem ainderin ablocked accotmtconsistentwith thelicense.I6L Thepurpose of aspecificlicenseistopttttheassetsin good orderto maximize OFAC'Seconomicleveragçwith designated non-u s persons and entitiesunderthe InternationalEm eygency Econom ic Pow ers Act.Depositing asqets,income,and salesproceedsinto bnnk accountscontrolled by thelicepsee asagentforOFAC isa comm on feattlrein specificlicenses!OFAC issuesspecificorgeneral v . . ' licenseswh:h itdeterm inesthatthere isa course ofaction regarding controlled property thatis in thenationalintereàt.fJ. II. L egalA nalysis Them otionsto dissolveand quash them itsofexecution andthewritofgnrnishm ent presentseveralreasonsto supporttheposition thatthe Coul'tshould dissolve and quash thewrits. TheflrstissueisatliresholdoneastowhethertheClerkofCourtproperlyissuedthewrits Case 1:21-cv-23190-FAM Document 460 Entered on FLSD Docket 02/19/2026 Page 7 of 16
witàoutaCourtorderadjudicatingthatGorrin andPerdomöareindeed agentsand instrum entalitiesofM adtlro;El-N ssam iand Cartelofthe Suns.Next,W ilson,Gonin,and Perdomoassertthatbecausethem itsofexecutiontargetrealpropertysubjecttoanOFAC license,therecanbenorecoverytmderTRIX.ThemovaptsalsocitetoCaballerov.FARC Caballero v.FuerzasArmadasRevolucionariosdeColombia,1 . 8-25337-C1V -M oorej2023 W L 5437222(S.D.Fla.Aug.21,2023)tosupportdissolutionofthewritsbecausethere,thedistrict courtfotm d thatG opin and'perdom o and theirrelated entitiesw ere notagentsand instlum entalitiesoftheFuerzasArmadasRevoluciongiasdeColom bia.M . 1..W ilson addsthat sovereign imm llnity barsarecovezy tmderTIUA andthatPlaintiffs,them selves,m ustobtain a ' . . licensetorecoverunderTRIA.'Finally,M. r.W ilsoniaisespersnnaljurisdiçtionasyetanother reason theCourtshould vaca'tethewrits. TheClerkofcourt' sIssuanceoftheWrits In ordinary garnishm entproceedings,the Clerk ofCourtm ay autom atically issuem itsof garnishm entwithoutnoticetothe defendantbecausethe defendanthés'already'been served and fmaljudgmenthasbeenentered.Thevalidityoftheunderlyingclai m isalreadyestablishedin court.Unitedpresidential. J,4 4 Ins.Co.v.King,. 361So.2d710,71)(F1a.1978). o ' Tlzisproceedingisnotatypicalgnnnlshm ent.Heze,Plaintiffsseek to recoveragninst third-part yagentsandistrumentalitiesasallowedbyTRIA.InStansellv.RevolutionaryArmed Forqesofcolombia,771F.3d713,726(11thCir.2021)(Stansell. J f),theEleventh Circuitheld thatIGpartieswhoseajsetsaretmderthreatofçxecutionpursuanttoTRIA j201areentitledto notic'eand an opportlmity to beheard in ordertorebuttheallegationsandpreservetheir possessoly interestin blocked asqets.''Stansell11addsthatçldueprocessentitled claimantsto ' act' ualnoticeofthepost judgmentproceedingsagainstthem. ''ItstatedthatG tg wlheretheownerof ' theassetbeinggnrnishédisthejudgnientdebtor,Inoticeupon. commencenientofasuitis Case 1:21-cv-23190-FAM Document 460 Entered on FLSD Docket 02/19/2026 Page 8 of 16
.adequateto givethejudgmentdebtoradvancewarningoflaterproceedingstmdertakentosatisfy thejudgment.'Thatsametypeofnoticeisnotsufficientwhereiheclaimantisathirdparty,who cnpnotbeexpectedtobeonnèticeofthejudgment. ''16Lat726 (quotingBrownv.fibert yLoan Corp.ofDyval,539F. 2d 1355,1357(5thCir.1976:.TheEleventhCircuitstatejtmequivocally ' that'llbjeforea' writofgnrnishmentorexecutionpursuanttoTRIA j201issues,adistrictcourt mustdeterminethatthqpro/ertyom lerisaEspeciallyDesignatedNarcoticsTraffickerq...and isanagencyorinstrumentalityofthejudgmentdebtorterroristparty. '!1d.at729. 7 TllisCourtpreviously adheredto Stansell'sduçprocessréquirem entintlziscaseto requirenoticeasto Sam ark LopezBello and an opportunity tobeheard.The sam eholdstrue now with Gorl'in and Perdom o.The Courtthereforedissolvesthewritspending adetermination tbroughthe adversary m ocessthatGonin and Perdomo andtheb related entitiesm'eagentsand instnzm entalitiesofM aduro,ElAissnmi,orthe Cartelofthe Stm s.TheClerk'sissuanceofthe writsw ithoutapriordetermination ofagency orinstlnlm entalityw asimproper. . ' . . ' B. Ff/àcfOfOFAC LicenseontheGorrinandperdomoAssets :<By itsterm s,TRIA allowsvictim softerrorto executeonly on blocked assets.''United j' tatesv.AllFundsonDepositwithR. J O ' Brien ( #:Assocs.,783F.3d607,622(7thCir.2015). TRIA statestmequivocally thatonlyblockedassetsaresubjecttoexecution.R. J O ' Brien,783 F.3dat622.TlUA narroFly definestheGG blocked assets''agaihstwhichjudgmentholderscan executeasE çatlyassetsseizedorfw zenbytheUnited Statestmderseçtion 5(b)oftheTrading with the Enemy Act...ortmdersections202 and 203 ofthelntem ationalEm ergency Economic PowersAct(. )' 'TRIA j201(d)(2).Intl niscase,thePresidsntinvokedtheIntem ational' djF 7Floridagarnishmentlaw alsoprovidesl'certainprotectionstothit' dpartiesclaiminganinterestillpropertysubject togarnishmentorexecution.Suchlaw iseffectiveillproceedingsinfederalcotu'tl.l''StansellIL 771F.3dat725. Case 1:21-cv-23190-FAM Document 460 Entered on FLSD Docket 02/19/2026 Page 9 of 16
EmergencyEconomicPowersActj203inllisExecudveOrder13850,whichresultedinthe . ' freezing oftheGon'in andPerdom o assets. D.E.W ilson alid theGorrin/pèrdom opartiesassertthatM r.W ilson'slicenseGiunblocks'' thepropeities,andrendersthem notsubjectto attachmenttmderTlUA.Putanotherway,the propertiesarenotseized orgozen by virtueofthe license.InR.J O 'Brien,the Seventh Circuit fotmdthe existenceofthelicenseprecluded afinding thattheproperty wastGblocked''because OFAC issuedalicensetotheDepart mentofJustice,which iswithinthejtlrisctiction ofthe United States,to effectforfeiture,which isGtatbottom ,alicense forfinaltransferordispositions'' TRIA j201(d)(2).8Sotoöhere,OFAC issuedalicensetoD.E.W ilson,whoiswithinthe judsdiction oftheUnited States,tomanagethepropertiesandçffectdispositionofthepropert ies ashedeem sappropdate.M r.W ilson'slicenses' pecifically statesthatthelicenseemay ççin the ordinary courseofbusinessdecideto sell.theproperties''and ç&engagyin transactionsordinadly incidentandnecessarytoselltheproperties. ''(ECF 425-1).ThislicensegraqtsM r.W ilsonbroad discretion tom anagetheproperties,wllich confirmsthatthepropertiesarezmtâozen orseized within TRIA'Sscope.Thetermsofthislicense,like 'the onein R.J O 'Brien,requirethisCourtto findtltaè tthepropertiesarenotçtseizedorâozen,''àndtherefore,notsubjecttoexecutiontmder . ' . . TRIA Insöholding,thecourtnotesthatalthough'thewritsissueéastoD.B.W ilson(as licensee)isonlyasto Gorrinproperties,. M r.W ilsonindicatesinhisdeclarationthathealsùhasa licenseastothePerdom o realpm peity,whièh isconsrmed by thetermsofthe licenseitself. 8TRIA defm esblockedassetsas: . (A)AnyassetseizedorfrozepbytheUnitedStatesundersection5(b)oftheTradingwiththeEnemyAct. . . ortm , dersections202 and203 ofthelnternationalEmergency EconomicPowersAct...and (B)doesnotincludepropert ythat- (i) issubjecttoalicenseissuedbytheUnitedStatesGovernmentforfmalpayment,tralpfer,or dispositionbyortoapersonsubjecttothejmisdictionoftheUnitedStatesincolmectionwith atransactionforwhichtheissuanceofsuch.licensehasbeenspecitkallyrequiredbystatme otherthan theInternationalEconbmicPowersAct...ortheUnitedNatlonsParticipation Act of1945. PUb.L.No.107-297,j201(d)(2),116Stat.2322,2339-40. 10 Case 1:21-cv-23190-FAM Document 460 Entered on FLSD Docket 02/19/2026 Page 10 of 16
( ' Eatlierin thiscase,thisCourtanalyzed whetherthe La GorcePalace Condom inium Association'jlicenseiem oved Sam atk LopezBello'scondontirlillm from TRIA 'Sdefinition of u , . ' blocked assets.' fhecotu. tfouùdthatitdidbutthenallowedPlaintiffstor 'enew theirTlUA claim ' . . . ' - ' 'Q ' thècbndomlnlllm association sold thecondom inblm ,took $heam ouptitwasowed,and once ' ' y lacèdtheremainingproceed:inakockedbankaccotmt.D8spitçthèCput ' tspriorholding, p 7 ' = ' Plaintiffsnow arguethatSinceanynetproceedsfrom asalepftheGoninandPerdomo ' l be lacèdin ablockedaccount theproper.tiesmm ain blocked propçrtieàwouldultim atey p , despitethelicense.Thelicense saystheopposite,and atithorizesthelicenjbetosellthe . ' . ' iixes costsapdfees,and only then deposit'anyremainder properties, use the proceedsto pay , into a blooked accpunt.Untiltherem ainderijdèposited,thepfoççedjaienotçGfrozen orseiged'' . t. . within'TRIA 'Sm enning and Plaintiffs cnnnotrecoveragainstthem now . . . ' ' ' ' ' 1 Plaintiffsarguethat'mliketltelicenseissuydto. th:LqGoïqePalacbcondomihblm,wllich . ' ' l M. r w ilson'slicenseasiotheGot' rinandPerdomo'propertiesis wasbroâdandavthorizeda.sa ç, . . limitedto m anagem enteandm aintçnanceoftheproperties.A reading ofthelicensebeliestllis . ' k ' conclusioh.Thelicensereads:GtshouldtheLicenseenot.reçeivepaymentfrom theresidentsof hepropeuies,orintheordinarycovseof-businessdecidetoselltlu properties,theu censee t may engageintransactionsordinarilyincidentahdnecessarytoselltv Propertiesg.j''(ECF' 425u . ' 1).Plaintiffs'position isatqddswiththelicense,itself. PlaintiffsalsoarguethatdesjitçthescopeofMr.' Wilson's.licenàé,theGorrin and PerdomoagsetsremainblockedbeçauseTRIA j2O1(d)(2)(B)createsan exemptionforlicensds issued undertheIntem ationalEm ergency Econom ic PowersAct.Putdifferehtly,Plaintiffs' position isthatlicènses issued tm derthe IEEPA do nothayethe xeffectofunblocldhg the assets aswouldalicenseispuydtmdertheKirigpinAct.PlahltiffiscorrectthatV r.W ilsop'slicenqe 11 Case 1:21-cv-23190-FAM Document 460 Entered on FLSD Docket 02/19/2026 Page 11 of 16
wasexpressly issuedlm derthèIntem ationalEm ergency EconomicPowersAct.Tllisisa distinction thatdoesnotmakea difference. Cotu'tshaveroutinely fotmd thatassetsblocked pttrsumzttoanExecutiveOrder,butalso subjecttoan OFAC licensingscheme,werenot blocked,andthereforeriotsubjecttoatt achmentunderTRIA. US.v.HolyLandFoundationfor Relief& Dev.,722F. 3d677,687(5th Cir.2013);EstateofHeiserv.IslamicRepublicoflran, 807F.Sulp.2d9,n.6(D.D.C.2011)(G tg- flransactions. ... ti ndert akenunderanOFAC licenshv scheme,...aretmblockedandnotsubjecttoattachment'l;Bankt? . /X lrv.Rubin,4é4F:3d 149,150(2dCir.2007)t' holdingthatGi assetsblockedpursuanttoExecutiveOrder...andits accompàn#ingregulations,...that' Aealsosubjecttolicense... ,arenotblocked ajsetsunder theTRIA. '' ).Putsuccinctly,TRIA doesnotreachftmdsthatalicenseeG lhasbeengiven ' authorization to controlthough anotherm eans.''HolyLand,722 F.3d at685. Finally,Plaintiffsassertthatthem itsarevalid asto Fisherlsland and CollinsAvenuç propertiesthat' M r.W ilson already sold,which resulted in receiptof$7,529,072..09 and an . . . ' additiqnal$4,201,543.87.Plaintiffsassertthatsihcethpsepropertiesaresold,theproceedsare blocked andnolongersubjecttothelicense.Ptt rsuanttotheOFAC license,' MryW ilsonis authorized to usethoseproceedstopay outjtanding Gçlegal,adm inistrative,ùrotherfeesthat (welrenecessaryandincidenttothesale''befoieplacingtheGl remainder' 'inaI lblockedaccotmt' ' Atoralatgllm ent,M .1..W iljop'!cotmselstated thathehasnotyetpqid a11thenecessary fees.' ' W ilsonshouldàepermittedto LiketheLaGorcePaléceCondominillm Association,M. 1. . com plete llis obligations tm derthe license. O nce fees and qxpenses am paid and the rem ainder ofthe sple proceedsareplaced into a blocked acçotmt,Plaintiffsm ay renew theirTRIA clnim andm oveforawritofgnrnishm entasto therem aining flznds.Thisisconsistentwith theCourt's 12 Case 1:21-cv-23190-FAM Document 460 Entered on FLSD Docket 02/19/2026 Page 12 of 16
priorruling regatding theM iam iBeach apartm ent.M arronv.M aduroM oros,No.21-23190- CIV 2023W L 3619308,*6-7 (S. D.Fla.M ay24,2023).9 7 . ' A. Thecf/àcfoftheCaballeroCaseontheAgency/lhstrumentalityDesignation UnderTlUA,atlagency orinstrumentality is'any Specially DesignatedN arcotics Traffickerthatisorwaseverinvolked in ateaoristorganizations'narcoticstrafficldng operatiönsorthatassisted theorganization'sfinancialormoney laundering network becauseit' Gçlwaseither' .(1)materiallyassistiùgin,orprovidingfinM cialortechnologicalsuppoitfororto,' orlprovidinggoods.orsel wicesil liupportofp'the(orgnnizations')internationalharcôtics trao cl dngactivitiesN d/or(2)Gowned,controlled,ordirectedby,oractingforor.onbehalfof thegorgAnizationj,and/or(3)ç playingasijnificantroleinthegorganization's)narcotics' . . , , ' ' trafficl cing.'''Stansellv.RevolutionaryArmedForcesofcolombia,(StansellFJ,45F.4th 1340, 1357(2022)(citingStansellIL 771F.3dat724n.6,732). The partiesdispute whetherPlalntiffs can establish thatGorrirèand Perdom o,and their related entities'are agepciesand instrpm entalitiesofNicolasM aduro M oros,the Cartelofthe Suns,and Tareck E1Aissamiin lightofCaballero v.FuerzasArmadasRevolucionariosde Colombia,18-25337-C1V-M oore,2023W L 5437222,*9,11n12 (S, D.Fla.Aug.21,2023) (fmdingplaintifffailedtoestablishthatGorri n,Perdomoandtheirrelated entitiesarèajentsor instnunentalitiesoftheFuerzasArmadasRevolucionariosdeCololpbia(FARCI).In Caballero,. . ' . .# . . . . thedistrictcotu'texnmined thevariousschem esthatGonin and Perdom o wereùw olved in and V orrinandPerdomoherecontendthatundçrJackson-plattsv.Gen.Elec.Cap.Corp.,727F.3d1127,1137(11th Cir.2013),Plaintiffswouldneedtofileaseparatedeclarâtoryactionorcommenceproceedingssupplementaryto obtainajudgmentthattheyareagentsandinstrumentalitiesofMaduro,ElAissami,andtheCarteloftheSunl.This Courtdoesnotagreeaseparatecaseiswarranted.Jackson-plattsisnotacasewheretheplaintiffssoughtrecovery ' lm derTRIA andtheEleventhCircuit'sguidancein Stansellindicatesthatdueprocessrequiresnoticearld ' OPPOIODY tobeheard. ' 13 Case 1:21-cv-23190-FAM Document 460 Entered on FLSD Docket 02/19/2026 Page 13 of 16
. detenninedonamotionforsummaryjudgmentthattheplaintiffscouldnotestablishthàtGorrln andPerdomo(andtheirrelatedentities)areagentsandinstlalmentalitiesoftheFARC. Caballero'slim ited holding isthattherecord evidencedid notestablish Gonin and Perdom o asagentsand instnzm entalitiesoftheFARC.Although theFAR.C isalso aDefendant here,Caballero'sholding doesnotprecludethisCourtfrom fm ding thatGonin andPerdom o are agentsand instnlmentalitiesofthe otherDefendantsin thiscase,such asM adtzro,E1Aissnm i, andthe Cartelofthe Stm s.Caballerô merely establishesthattheplaintiffsin thatcasefailed to cormectthe dotsbetween Gorrin and Perdomo'sactionsand.theirallegedm aterialsupportofthe FARC'Stezw ristactivities. Caballero,202. 3W L 5à37222,at*5(GçundertheEleventh Circuit exnmple,itisasiftheFARC hi res(A)M aduro,whouses(B)CeliaFloresto' carry outsome operation,whouses(C)LosChamosforhelpintheallegedoperation,who(D)receivemoney âom Gonin foran unstated reason,and them ohey som ehow,based solely on speculation,makes itsway up to theFARC and materially benelksthem .IftheEleventh Circuithad intended such a broadinterjretation ofthe(agency/insirumentalityjrelationship,itwellcouldhaveprovideda broaderexample.'). ThepartiesalsodijputewhetherthePlaintiffs'relianceonthe experttestimony of DouglasFarah issufficientto establish Gon'in and Perdom o'sagency and instnlm entality status. Gonin andPerdomo tlrgethe Courtto conductaDauberthearing asto theadmissibility of Farah'stestim ony.The Courtwillrevisittheissue oncethijm atterisready toproceedto an adversary proceeding. B. W hetherthewritsarenulland void underthe VenezuelaSanctionsRegulations. GorringerdomoandMr.W ilsbnarguethatallowingPlaintiffstognrnishandexecute againsttheirblocked assetsviolatestheVenezuela SanctionsRegulations,31C.F.R.PM 591, implementingIntem ationalEmergencyEconoznic.PowersAct(IEEPA),50U. S.C.j 1702et 14 Case 1:21-cv-23190-FAM Document 460 Entered on FLSD Docket 02/19/2026 Page 14 of 16
seq.,and Executiv'eOrder13850.Intheirview,theregulationsrendetnullàndvoid any çllien, execution,gnrnishmqnt''or 'otherGjudicialprocess''placedupon OfW c-blockedproperty absent r ' ' an OFAC license.Putanotherw ay,they arguePlaintiffsthem selvesm ustobtain alicenseto recovertmdeïTRIA.ThisCöurtpreviouslyrecognized,however,thatGGgfloracreditorotherthan avictim ofterrorism,federal1aw requiresacreditortoobtain anOFAC licensetotakeanyaction thattouch:sonaKingpindesignee'jblockedproperty.''(ECF 76at7).Othercourtshave likewiserejectedthepositionthatplaintiffs/judgmentcreditorsmustsecureanOFAC liceriseor , ' otherwisegçtperm ission f' rom theU.S.Goyernm entbeforethby can garrlish orexecuteon OFAu-blocked assetstosatisfy aTR- IA judgment.SeeAlbanOsiov.M aduroM oros,No.21- 20706-CIV-GAYLES,(ReportandRecommendation)(S. D.Fla.July 17,2024)(ECF 121at5); Stanqellv.FARC,No.19-20896-ClV-SCOLA,2019W L 10378357,at*2 (S. D.Fla.Aug.26, 2019)(GG- fhereisalsonorequitementthatPlaintiffsobtain anOFAC licensebeforeseeking attachmentandexecutiononM ovants'blockedassets...Tm A judgmentholdersareexempt , ' âom OFAC'Slicenstzrereqo ementswhenattachingandexecutingonblockedassetsofa ' torinstrumentality.i ');Stansellv.FARC No.09-CV-2308-7- -36AA. 5 2019 terroz istparty sagen , , WL 2637791,at*5(M . D.Fla.a llme20,zolgltGçplaintiffsandtheUnitedStatesarguethat Plaintiffsdonotneed atlOFAC licenseforexecution ofKingpin Actblocked assetstmderthe ' fh Cotlrtagrees.').Accotdingly,theCourtfindsthatPlaintiffs TIUA onthesespecificfacts. e . failureto obtain an OFA C licqnse doesnotaffecttheissuanceofthem 'its. C. Whetherthewritsviolatesovereign immunity M r.W ilson arguesthatbecausel zislicenseisissuedby OFAC,itijsubjed tosovereign rp ' ' . immllnity.Tosupportthisposition,hecitesto Greenbaum v.Irann: 6- lF.4th428 431(D. C.Cir. ' i . jj ' . 2023),wllich fmdswritsofgnrnlshmentseeklngdiscoveryf' rom the .S.Attorneyasgnrnlshee 15 Case 1:21-cv-23190-FAM Document 460 Entered on FLSD Docket 02/19/2026 Page 15 of 16
violate sovereign imm llnity.Here,W ilson arguesasalicensee,heisan agentofOFA C and therïfore,protected by sovereigù im munity.Forthisreasoh,healsom ovesto quash the subpoenaagainsthinh seeking l' lijfinancialrecordsasto theGorrin pad Perdom o assets.Asthe, Cout'tfmdsthatthe Clerk ofCourtimproperly issued thewritsand thatm itsofexecution are ' also hwalid becausetheproperty istmblockedby virtueofM r.W ilsèn'slicense,theCourtneed notdecidetheissueofsovereign immllnity.TheCotut however,deniesthem otion to quash the subpoenaasmopt,butwillallow 1W. 1. .W ilsontoraijetheissueagainshoutdPlaintiffsreissuethe subpoena. D. PersonàlJurisdiction D. E.W ilsonarguesthatPlaintiffsfailtoestablishpersonaljtuisdiction overhim asthe licenseeoftheproperty.Havingfound-ihewritsghouldbequashed and dissolved,theCourtwill addressM r.W ilson's, personaljcisdictionarplmentoncethismatterisready toproceed. i DONE A'ND ORDERED in ChnmbersatM inm i, Florlda,this ofFebruary 2026. ' .. e' . CopiesfiTrnished to: FEUE .M OREN O . UN SYATESDISTRIOT JUDGE CotmselofRecord 16 Case 1:21-cv-23190-FAM Document 460 Entered on FLSD Docket 02/19/2026 Page 16 of 16
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