FEAR
Forfeiture Endangers American Rights Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Donations are tax deductible.
20 Sunnyside Suite A-419, Mill Valley, CA 94941     phone: 415-389-8551  or toll-free  888-FEAR-001

Can anyone help us solve the mystery of the government's actions in trying to forfeit the Flash II?

In the United States' Supplemental Responses to Interrogatories regarding U.S. v. One Star Class Sloop Named "Flash II," the government stated that Flash II was purchased for a price of $100,000 at the Guernsey's auction by Mr. Frank L. Harvey, who resides in Houston, Texas.  One of the interrogatories questioned whether the successful bidder is related–either by blood, marriage, or through a business partnership, agency or other business relationship–to any party in the forfeiture case, including government agents on the case, the Confidential Informant."

In response, the government stated that it "has no information to indicate that the buyer was related to any of these persons."  The mystery behind the government's actions in this case remains – with many questions still left unanswered. As forfeiture defense attorney Brenda Grantland posed in pleadings to the district court:

The government has proven itself to be a thief, fencing stolen property, and laundering the proceeds to prevent Dr. Lane from undoing the sale – in conspiracy with Guernsey’s and possibly the purchaser at Guernsey’s auction. 

The bigger and more important question is – why did the government do this?  Why did they go after this sailboat in the first place, when the government knew that its informant Gary Milo could not trace any proceeds into the sailboat, and on that basis obtained a substitute assets forfeiture order for other property belonging to Gary Milo?  Why did they not bother finding out who actually owned the sailboat – a fact the records of Marblehead Trading Company and attorney Robert Harper would readily have shown?  Why did they not bother trying to find the anaesthesiologist that the government’s own informant told them was a primary investor? 

Once Dr. Lane, came forward, why did the government continue to fight him – to this day – despite the government’s concession at trial that Dr. Lane is an innocent owner? 

The farther we go, and the deeper we dig, the more corruption we uncover in this case.  This case is much bigger than Dr. Lane and the amount of money he will eventually get in recompense.

FEAR invites anyone who has additional information about the history of Mr. Frank L Harvey (Houston, TX), or any possible connections that Mr. Harvey might have with government officials or agents, to share it with us by contacting FEAR at brenda1@fear.org or contacting us at the address or phone numbers at the top of this page.