USA v. GUO, 1:23-cr-00118, No. 617 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 5, 2025)

(cid:17)(cid:27)(cid:21)(cid:30)(cid:29)(cid:24)(cid:23)(cid:26)(cid:1)(cid:18)(cid:26)(cid:31)(cid:22)(cid:25)(cid:27)(cid:28)(cid:22)(cid:1)(cid:20)(cid:17)(cid:13)(cid:1)(cid:15)(cid:19)(cid:4)(cid:18)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:7)(cid:12)(cid:2)(cid:11)(cid:7)(cid:5)(cid:4)(cid:2)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:12)(cid:19)(cid:2)(cid:14)(cid:14)(cid:3)(cid:8)(cid:2)(cid:8)(cid:6)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:6)(cid:18)(cid:16)(cid:5)(cid:9)(cid:8)(cid:15)(cid:17)
`Case 1:23-cr-00118-AT Document 617 Filed 04/05/25 Page 1 of 7
`
`18 Cr. 118 (AT)
`
`VERIFIED FORFEITURE PETITION
`OF JAMES R. COLLINS, JR., ON
`BEHALF OF THE FOLLOWING
`SHAREHOLDERS OF MERCANTILE
`GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC STOCK:
`MORPHEUS ASSET STRATEGIES
`LLC; GALAXY DIGITAL
`VENTURES LLC; OPTIONS
`TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS
`INTERNATIONAL LLC D/B/A
`MERCURY DIGITAL ASSETS; BTG
`TRADING LTD., DAVE CHEN;
`THOMAS BECKER;
`INTERNATIONAL SPORTS LLC;
`ROBERT DOYLE; ARTURO
`GANTEAUME; JEREMY
`CUNNINGHAM; JEFF LEE; ERIC
`EDWARDS; BRITTANY HICKMAN;
`MYLA JOHNSON; MIRSTAR, LLC;
`DON CORNWELL; NETONIS
`WYBENSINGER; KEVIN LONG;
`AND YAROT LAFONTAINE
`
`
`
`v.
`
`
`YVETTE WANG,
`
`a/k/a “Yanping,”
`
`a/k/a “Y,”
`
`
`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
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`UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
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`Plaintiff,
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`JAMES R. COLLINS, JR., ON BEHALF OF
`:
`THE FOLLOWING SHAREHOLDERS OF
`:
`MERCANTILE GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC
`:
`STOCK: MORPHEUS ASSET STRATEGIES
`:
`LLC; GALAXY DIGITAL VENTURES LLC;
`:
`OPTIONS TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS
`INTERNATIONAL LLC D/B/A MERCURY
`:
`DIGITAL ASSETS; BTG TRADING LTD.,
`:
`DAVE CHEN; THOMAS BECKER;
`:
`INTERNATIONAL SPORTS LLC; ROBERT
`:
`DOYLE; ARTURO GANTEAUME; JEREMY
`:
`CUNNINGHAM; JEFF LEE; ERIC
`:
`EDWARDS; BRITTANY HICKMAN; MYLA
`:
`JOHNSON; MIRSTAR, LLC; DON
`CORNWELL; NETONIS WYBENSINGER;
`:
`KEVIN LONG; AND YAROT LAFONTAINE,
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`Petitioner
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`Defendant,
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`1
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`

`(cid:17)(cid:27)(cid:21)(cid:30)(cid:29)(cid:24)(cid:23)(cid:26)(cid:1)(cid:18)(cid:26)(cid:31)(cid:22)(cid:25)(cid:27)(cid:28)(cid:22)(cid:1)(cid:20)(cid:17)(cid:13)(cid:1)(cid:15)(cid:19)(cid:4)(cid:18)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:7)(cid:12)(cid:2)(cid:11)(cid:7)(cid:5)(cid:4)(cid:2)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:12)(cid:19)(cid:2)(cid:14)(cid:14)(cid:3)(cid:8)(cid:2)(cid:8)(cid:6)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:6)(cid:18)(cid:16)(cid:5)(cid:9)(cid:8)(cid:15)(cid:17)
`Case 1:23-cr-00118-AT Document 617 Filed 04/05/25 Page 2 of 7
`
`Petitioner, James R. Collins, Jr., on behalf of the following Shareholders of Mercantile
`
`Global Holding stock: Morpheus Asset Strategies LLC; Galaxy Digital Ventures LLC; Options
`
`Technology Solutions International LLC d/b/a Mercury Digital Assets; BTG Trading LTD.,
`
`Dave Chen; Thomas Becker; International Sports LLC; Robert Doyle; Arturo Ganteaume;
`
`Jeremy Cunningham; Jeff Lee; Eric Edwards; Brittany Hickman; Myla Johnson; Mirstar, LLC;
`
`Don Cornwell; Netonis Wybensinger; Kevin Long; and Yarot LaFontaine (“Petitioner”)
`
`respectfully submits this Verified Petition, pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 853(n), to request a hearing to
`
`adjudicate Petitioner’s interest in $12,605,747.00 from the following assets:
`
`1. $89,992,861.75 in United States currency formerly on deposit in
`account number 5090042770 at Silvergate Bank, held in the name
`of “Hamilton Opportunity Fund SPC” and seized by the
`Government on or about September 18, 2022 (23-FBI-000074)
`2. $89,899,889.20 in United States currency formerly on deposit in
`account number 5090042853 at Silvergate Bank, held in the name
`of “Hamilton Opportunity Funds SPC” and seized by the
`Government on or about September 18, 2022 (23-FBI-000069)
`3. $48,230,709.62 in United States currency formerly on deposit in
`account number 5090030288 at Silvergate Bank, held in the name
`of “Hamilton Investment Management Ltd.” and seized by the
`Government on or about September 18, 2022 (23-FBI-000072)
`4. $1,683,077.40 in United States currency formerly on deposit in
`account number 5090042762 at Silvergate Bank, held in the name
`of “Hamilton Opportunity Fund SPC” and seized by the
`Government on or about September 18, 2022 (23-FBI-000073)
`5. $64,826.87 in United States currency formerly on deposit in
`account number 5090037713 at Silvergate Bank, held in the name
`of “Hamilton Opportunity Fund SPC” and seized by the
`Government on or about September 18, 2022 (23 FBI-000075)
`6. $467,343.00 in United States currency formerly on deposit in
`account number 5090037754 at Silvergate Bank, held in the name
`of “Hamilton Opportunity Fund SPC” and seized by the
`Government on or about September 18, 2022 (23-FBI-000077)
`7. $75,000,000.00 in United States currency formerly on deposit in
`account number 5090037705 at Silvergate Bank, held in the name
`of “Hamilton Opportunity Fund SPC” and seized by the
`Government on or about September 18, 2022 (23-FBI-000078)
`
`2
`
`

`(cid:17)(cid:27)(cid:21)(cid:30)(cid:29)(cid:24)(cid:23)(cid:26)(cid:1)(cid:18)(cid:26)(cid:31)(cid:22)(cid:25)(cid:27)(cid:28)(cid:22)(cid:1)(cid:20)(cid:17)(cid:13)(cid:1)(cid:15)(cid:19)(cid:4)(cid:18)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:7)(cid:12)(cid:2)(cid:11)(cid:7)(cid:5)(cid:4)(cid:2)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:12)(cid:19)(cid:2)(cid:14)(cid:14)(cid:3)(cid:8)(cid:2)(cid:8)(cid:6)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:6)(cid:18)(cid:16)(cid:5)(cid:9)(cid:8)(cid:15)(cid:17)
`Case 1:23-cr-00118-AT Document 617 Filed 04/05/25 Page 3 of 7
`
`8. $1,800,000.00 in United States currency formerly on deposit in
`account number 5090037739 at Silvergate Bank, held in the name
`of “Hamilton Opportunity Fund SPC” and seized by the
`Government on or about September 18, 2022 (23-FBI-000079)
`
`(the “Subject Funds”) which are subject to forfeiture in the above referenced matter.
`
`Mercantile Global Holdings, Inc. (“MGH”) is a Delaware holding company, whose sole
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`operating asset was Mercantile Bank International, an International Financial Entity licensed by
`
`the Puerto Rico Office of Financial Institutions (“OCIF”) to provide banking, payment and
`
`custody services.
`
`In September of 2022, William Je,1 through his controlled vehicle, the Hamilton
`
`Opportunity Fund (“Hamilton”), offered to purchase all outstanding shares of MGH in the
`
`amount of $12,605,747.00, in order to acquire control of MBI. Je also agreed to purchase
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`$37,089,253 in newly issued shares of MGH in order to provide MBI with working capital on an
`
`on-going basis.
`
`On September 16, 2022, in furtherance of the offer by Je, Hamilton executed a Stock
`
`Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) with Morpheus Asset Strategies LLC; Galaxy Digital Ventures
`
`LLC; Options Technology Solutions International LLC d/b/a Mercury Digital Assets; BTG
`
`Trading Ltd., Dave Chen; Thomas Becker; International Sports LLC; Robert Doyle; Arturo
`
`Ganteaume; Jeremy Cunningham; Jeff Lee; Eric Edwards; Brittany Hickman; Myla Johnson;
`
`Mirstar, LLC; Don Cornwell; Netonis Wybensinger; Kevin Long; and Yarot Lafontaine
`
`(collectively, the “Shareholders”) to purchase their shares in MGH. See Exhibit 1. Pursuant to
`
`the SPA, the Shareholders designated and appointed James R. Collins, Jr. as their “agent and
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`attorney-in-fact with full power and authority to act for and on behalf of each” Shareholder. Id.
`
`1 William (cid:45)e is an alias for Kin Ming Je, a defendant in this criminal action.
`
`3
`
`

`(cid:17)(cid:27)(cid:21)(cid:30)(cid:29)(cid:24)(cid:23)(cid:26)(cid:1)(cid:18)(cid:26)(cid:31)(cid:22)(cid:25)(cid:27)(cid:28)(cid:22)(cid:1)(cid:20)(cid:17)(cid:13)(cid:1)(cid:15)(cid:19)(cid:4)(cid:18)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:7)(cid:12)(cid:2)(cid:11)(cid:7)(cid:5)(cid:4)(cid:2)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:12)(cid:19)(cid:2)(cid:14)(cid:14)(cid:3)(cid:8)(cid:2)(cid:8)(cid:6)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:6)(cid:18)(cid:16)(cid:5)(cid:9)(cid:8)(cid:15)(cid:17)
`Case 1:23-cr-00118-AT Document 617 Filed 04/05/25 Page 4 of 7
`
`The total collective amount due to the MGH’s Shareholders was $12,605,747.00. Id. The shares
`
`sold by each individual Shareholder is detailed in Schedule 2.1 of Exhibit 1.
`
`Additionally, the proposed share purchases for the newly issued shares, as described
`
`above, were documented in two separate investment agreements titled: Investment Agreement
`
`(with a purchase price of $12,089,253) and Investment and Restricted Account Agreement (with
`
`a purchase price of $25,000,000) (collectively, the “Investment Agreements”). See Ex. 2; Ex. 3,
`
`respectively. Both of the Investment Agreements, between MGH and Hamilton, are dated and
`
`were executed on September 16, 2022, and have a combined total of $37,089,253, which was the
`
`amount due to MGH at closing. The parties (i.e. Hamilton, the Shareholders, and MGH) agreed
`
`that the total amount due under the parties’ respective agreements ($49,695,000) would be sent
`
`in one wire to the bank account of MGH on the day of signature. Upon signature, MGH had an
`
`enforceable contractual right to payment and a legally cognizable interest in the $37,089,253
`
`held by Hamilton at Silvergate Bank (“Silvergate”) to satisfy its obligations under the parties’
`
`agreements. Additionally, the Shareholders likewise had an enforceable contractual right to
`
`payment and a legally cognizable interest in the $12,605,747.00 held by Hamilton at Silvergate.
`
`MGH and the Shareholders stood ready, willing and able to convey the purchased shares upon
`
`receipt of payment.
`
`Hamilton initiated a wire transfer in the amount of $49,695,000 from its account at
`
`Silvergate Bank to MGH near the close of business on September 16, 2022. A copy of the wire
`
`transfer confirmation, received by Hamilton from Silvergate on September 16, 2022, and sent to
`
`MGH and the Shareholders, is attached as Exhibit 4.
`
`4
`
`

`(cid:17)(cid:27)(cid:21)(cid:30)(cid:29)(cid:24)(cid:23)(cid:26)(cid:1)(cid:18)(cid:26)(cid:31)(cid:22)(cid:25)(cid:27)(cid:28)(cid:22)(cid:1)(cid:20)(cid:17)(cid:13)(cid:1)(cid:15)(cid:19)(cid:4)(cid:18)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:7)(cid:12)(cid:2)(cid:11)(cid:7)(cid:5)(cid:4)(cid:2)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:12)(cid:19)(cid:2)(cid:14)(cid:14)(cid:3)(cid:8)(cid:2)(cid:8)(cid:6)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:6)(cid:18)(cid:16)(cid:5)(cid:9)(cid:8)(cid:15)(cid:17)
`Case 1:23-cr-00118-AT Document 617 Filed 04/05/25 Page 5 of 7
`
`On or about September 18, 2022, after the wire transfer had been initiated, but prior to its
`
`receipt by MGH’s bank, the funds were seized in transit by the Department of Justice. MGH has
`
`not received payment from Hamilton or from any other source.2
`
`MGH and the Shareholders were bona fide sellers of their MGH shares for value, with no
`
`knowledge that the funds earmarked by Hamilton to pay for the transaction had been derived
`
`from an illegal source. By this petition, Petitioners respectfully requests recovery of their funds–
`
`$12,605,747.00, which they were entitled to, that were in transit to MGH’s bank account for
`
`distribution to the Shareholders, and that were seized preemptively by the Department of Justice.
`
`Petitioner, i.e. James R. Collins, Jr., on behalf of the following Shareholders of
`
`Mercantile Global Holding stock: Morpheus Asset Strategies LLC; Galaxy Digital Ventures
`
`LLC; Options Technology Solutions International LLC d/b/a Mercury Digital Assets; BTG
`
`Trading LTD., Dave Chen; Thomas Becker; International Sports LLC; Robert Doyle; Arturo
`
`Ganteaume; Jeremy Cunningham; Jeff Lee; Eric Edwards; Brittany Hickman; Myla Johnson;
`
`Mirstar, LLC; Don Cornwell; Netonis Wybensinger; Kevin Long; and Yarot LaFontaine,
`
`respectfully asserts, on behalf of the Stockholders, an interest in $12,605,747.00 of the Subject
`
`Funds as described above, and requests return of said funds, or in the alternative for a hearing to
`
`adjudicate its interest.
`
`SIGNATURE ON FOLLOWING PAGE
`
`
`2 MGH sued Hamilton in arbitration, seeking damages relating to Hamilton’s failure to pay for the $37,089,253 in
`shares Hamilton agreed to purchase. The individual shareholders, i.e. the Shareholders, have preserved their rights,
`but have not yet litigated their claims. In the MGH arbitration, the arbitrator held that the parties had a binding
`contract which Hamilton breached, and issued an award in excess of $20 million. Hamilton stated in the arbitration
`and in subsequent challenges to entry of judgment to the award that it had no funds to satisfy its contractual
`obligations to MGH other than the $50 million that had been seized by the government.
`
`5
`
`

`(cid:17)(cid:27)(cid:21)(cid:30)(cid:29)(cid:24)(cid:23)(cid:26)(cid:1)(cid:18)(cid:26)(cid:31)(cid:22)(cid:25)(cid:27)(cid:28)(cid:22)(cid:1)(cid:20)(cid:17)(cid:13)(cid:1)(cid:15)(cid:19)(cid:4)(cid:18)(cid:4)(cid:5)(cid:7)(cid:12)(cid:2)(cid:11)(cid:7)(cid:5)(cid:4)(cid:2)(cid:7)(cid:4)(cid:12)(cid:19)(cid:2)(cid:14)(cid:14)(cid:3)(cid:8)(cid:2)(cid:8)(cid:6)(cid:9)(cid:10)(cid:6)(cid:18)(cid:16)(cid:5)(cid:9)(cid:8)(cid:15)(cid:17)
`Case 1:23-cr-00118-AT Document 617 Filed 04/05/25 Page 7 of 7
`
`
`
`
`
`VERIFICATION
`
`James R. Collins, Jr, on behalf of the following Shareholders of Mercantile Global
`
`Holding stock: Morpheus Asset Strategies LLC; Galaxy Digital Ventures LLC; Options
`
`Technology Solutions International LLC d/b/a Mercury Digital Assets; BTG Trading LTD.,
`
`Dave Chen; Thomas Becker; International Sports LLC; Robert Doyle; Arturo Ganteaume;
`
`Jeremy Cunningham; Jeff Lee; Eric Edwards; Brittany Hickman; Myla Johnson; Mirstar, LLC;
`
`Don Cornwell; Netonis Wybensinger; Kevin Long; and Yarot LaFontaine, pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
`
`§ 1746, declares, under penalty of perjury that the foregoing Verified Forfeiture Petition is true
`
`and correct.
`
`Executed on April 4, 2025
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`By:
`
`James R. Collins, Jr, on behalf of the following
`Shareholders of Mercantile Global Holding stock:
`Morpheus Asset Strategies LLC; Galaxy Digital
`Ventures LLC; Options Technology Solutions
`International LLC d/b/a Mercury Digital Assets;
`BTG Trading LTD., Dave Chen; Thomas Becker;
`International Sports LLC; Robert Doyle; Arturo
`Ganteaume; Jeremy Cunningham; Jeff Lee; Eric
`Edwards; Brittany Hickman; Myla Johnson;
`Mirstar, LLC; Don Cornwell; Netonis
`Wybensinger; Kevin Long; and Yarot LaFontaine
`
`
`________________________________________
`James R. Collins, Jr.
`Authorized Representative of the following
`Shareholders of Mercantile Global Holding stock:
`Morpheus Asset Strategies LLC; Galaxy Digital
`Ventures LLC; Options Technology Solutions
`International LLC d/b/a Mercury Digital Assets;
`BTG Trading LTD., Dave Chen; Thomas Becker;
`International Sports LLC; Robert Doyle; Arturo
`Ganteaume; Jeremy Cunningham; Jeff Lee; Eric
`Edwards; Brittany Hickman; Myla Johnson;
`Mirstar, LLC; Don Cornwell; Netonis
`Wybensinger; Kevin Long; and Yarot LaFontain
`
`4
`
`

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