Frofeiture Money Judgment Order as to Francesco Distefano — USA v. Distefano (Dkt. 127, N.D. Ill.)

Record facts

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois · No. 1:24-cr-00424 · Doc. 127 · 2026-03-19 · Docket on CourtListener

Full text

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS 
EASTERN DIVISION 
 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
) 
) 
No. 24 CR 424-1 
v. 
 
 
 
) 
) 
Judge Jeremy C. Daniel 
FRANCESCO DISTEFANO 
) 
 
FORFEITURE MONEY JUDGMENT ORDER 
 
This cause comes before the Court on motion of the United States for a 
forfeiture money judgment order in the amount of $1,049,595, pursuant to Title 18, 
United States Code, Section 981(a)(1)(C), Title 28, United States Code, Section 
2461(c), and Fed. R. Crim. P. 32.2. The Court being informed of the premises, hereby 
finds as follows: 
a) 
On December 10, 2024, a second superseding indictment was returned 
charging FRANCESCO DISTEFANO with wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United 
States Code, Section 1343 (Counts 1-11); making a false statement to a financial 
institution in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1014 (Count 12) and 
money laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1957(a) 
(Counts 13-17).  
b) 
The superseding indictment sought forfeiture to the United States of 
any and all right, title and interest defendant FRANCESCO DISTEFANO may have 
in any property which constitutes and is derived from proceeds traceable to the 
charged wire fraud offenses, as provided in Title 18, United States Code, Section 
981(a)(1)(C) and Title 28, United States Code, Section 2461(c). 
Case: 1:24-cr-00424 Document #: 127 Filed: 03/19/26 Page 1 of 5 PageID #:1086

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c) 
On June 25, 2025, pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 11, defendant 
FRANCESCO DISTEFANO entered a voluntary plea of guilty to Count One of the 
second superseding indictment, charging him with a violation of Title 18, United 
States Code, Section 1343, thereby making certain property subject to forfeiture 
pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 981(a)(1)(C) and Title 28, United 
States Code, Section 2461(c). Defendant FRANCESCO DISTEFANO further agreed 
to the immediate entry of a forfeiture money judgment order, thereby extinguishing 
any right, title, or interest he has in the subject funds. 
d) 
The United States requested that this Court enter a personal money 
judgment in the amount of $1,049,595 against defendant FRANCESCO 
DISTEFANO, and further enter a forfeiture money judgment order pursuant to the 
provisions of Title 18 United States Code, Section 981(a)(1)(C) and Title 28 United 
States Code, Section 2461(c), forfeiting all right, title, and interest defendant 
FRANCESCO DISTEANO has in the funds in the amount of $1,049,595 subject to 
forfeiture.  
e) 
Defendant FRANCESCO DISTEFANO further agreed to the forfeiture 
of the following specific property to the United States, as property which represents 
proceeds defendant obtained as a result of the wire fraud offense of conviction and to 
be applied towards partial satisfaction of the personal money judgment: 
i. 
Cash/currency in lieu of 2016 Lamborghini Huracan, VIN: 
ZHWUC2ZF1GLA04413; 
ii. 
Cash/Currency in lieu of 2020 Land Rover Evoque SE, VIN: 
SALZP2FX7LH006525;  
iii. 
Cash/Currency in lieu of 2017 Porsche 991 911 Carrera S Coupe, 
VIN: WP0AB2A9XHS123487; 
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iv. 
Cash/Currency in lieu of 2017 Maserati Ghibli S, VIN: 
ZAM57RTA1H1230190; and 
v. 
Funds in the amount of $677,932.25 seized from Account 
XXXXXXXX9624. 
 
f) 
Pursuant to the Default Decree entered in United States of America v. 
2016 Lamborghini Huracan, et al., Case No. 22-CV-1684, the United States Marshals 
Service has sold all of the items listed in subparagraphs i through iv above, and 
deposited the following net proceeds of the sales along with the bank account listed 
in item v into the Asset Forfeiture Fund: 
i. 
Net proceeds in the amount of $167,878.98 for the 2016 
Lamborghini Huracan, VIN ZHWUC2ZF1GLA04413; 
ii. 
Net proceeds in the amount of $10,926.98 for the 2020 Land Rover 
Evoque SE, VIN SALZP2FX7LH006525; 
iii. 
Net proceeds in the amount of $87,378.50 for the 2017 Porsche 
991 911 Carrera S Coupe, VIN WPOAB2A9XHS123487;  
iv. 
Net proceeds in the amount of $4,670.98 for the 2017 Maserati 
Ghibli S, VIN ZAM57RTA1H1230190; and 
v. 
Net proceeds in the amount of  $677,932.25 from Account 
XXXXXXXX9624. 
 
g) 
Pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 981(a)(1)(C), Title 28, 
United States Code, Section 2461(c), and Fed. R. Crim. P. 32.2, the United States 
requested that the terms and conditions of this forfeiture money judgment order be 
made part of the sentence imposed against defendant FRANCESCO DISTEFANO 
and included in any judgment and commitment order entered in this case against 
him.  
Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED: 
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1. 
A judgment is entered against defendant FRANCESCO DISTEFANO in 
the amount of $1,049,595. It is further ordered, 
2. 
That, pursuant to the provisions of Title 18, United States Code, Section 
981(a)(1)(C), Title 28, United States Code, Section 2461(c), and Fed. R. Crim. P. 32.2, 
all right, title, and interest defendant FRANCESCO DISTEFANO may have in funds 
in the amount of $1,049,595 is hereby forfeit to the United States of America for 
disposition according to law. It is further ordered, 
3. 
That, funds in the amount of $948,787.69, representing the net proceeds 
of the assets forfeited in the related civil case more fully described above, are to be 
applied in partial satisfaction of the outstanding forfeiture judgment entered against 
defendant FRANCESCO DISTEFANO. It is further ordered, 
4. 
That, pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853, as 
incorporated by Title 28, United States Code, Section 2461(c) and Subdivision (b)(3) 
of Rule 32.2 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, upon entry of this Forfeiture 
money judgment order, the Court hereby authorizes the Attorney General or its 
designated representatives to conduct discovery to identify or locate property subject 
to forfeiture, including substitute assets, and to seize property ordered forfeited upon 
such terms and conditions as set forth by the Court. It is further ordered, 
5. 
Additionally, pursuant to Title 21,United States Code, Section 853(i)(1), 
as incorporated by Title 28, United States Code, Section 2461(c), the Attorney 
General is authorized to: 
grant petitions for mitigation or remission of forfeiture, restore forfeited 
property to victims of a violation of this subchapter, or take any other 
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action to protect the rights of innocent persons which is in the interest 
of justice and which is not inconsistent with the provisions of this 
section. 
 
Accordingly, upon conclusion of a sentencing hearing in this case and issuance of a 
Judgment and Commitment Order, and after the resolution of any related appeal, 
restoration or remission matters of the assets forfeited in the related civil forfeiture 
case relating to the victims will then be addressed by the Attorney General. It is 
further ordered, 
6. 
Pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 981(a)(1)(C), Title 28, 
United States Code, Section 2461(c), and Fed. R. Crim. P. 32.2, the terms and 
conditions of this forfeiture money judgment order shall be made part of the sentence 
imposed against defendant and recited in any judgment and commitment order 
entered in the case. In accordance with Rule 32.2(b)(4)(A), at sentencing—or at any 
time before sentencing if defendant consents—the forfeiture money judgment order, 
will become final as to defendant. It is further ordered, 
7. 
This court shall retain jurisdiction in this matter to take additional 
action and enter further orders as necessary to implement and enforce this forfeiture 
order. 
 
                                      
JEREMY C. DANIEL  
United States District Judge 
 
DATED:      3/19/2026               
Case: 1:24-cr-00424 Document #: 127 Filed: 03/19/26 Page 5 of 5 PageID #:1090

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