seized coins sold to pay fine and attorney fees for criminal defendant who calines to be indigent
Contact: Peter Deegan
ROBERT NEUZIL, 64, formerly from Fort Atkinson, Iowa, was charged in July 2009, with Interstate Stalking. Neuzil received appointed counsel when he indicated he could not afford an attorney.
At his sentencing, following his guilty plea, the Court determined NEUZIL’S significant coin collection could be sold to pay a fine, as well as reimburse the United States Treasury for his court-appointed counsel.
Chief Judge Linda R. Reade for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa ordered NEUZIL to pay a $5,000 fine, along with a mandated $300 special assessment. Chief Judge Reade also ordered NEUZIL to reimburse the Department of Treasury for the Federal Defender’s representation in the amount of $10,500.
The coins were seized in May 2009 and recently sold, pursuant to an order of execution by the United States Marshals Service at an auction for $21,235.37, minus costs. NEUZIL’S fine was paid in full and the Department of Treasury will be reimbursed for his legal representation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew J. Cole and Martin J. McLaughlin represented the United States in the execution of the coins.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a cooperative local, state and federal program aimed at the enhanced prosecution of gun crimes. The case was referred to the United States Attorney’s Office by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The United States Marshals Office and the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office also assisted in the investigation.
Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is CR 09-2020-LRR.
