By Gina Tabonares
Variety News Staff

THE federal government has forfeited some $46,000 seized from a Barrigada house last year after learning that the money came from illegal drugs activities.
District Court of Guam Magistrate Judge Joaquin Manibusan ordered the forfeiture over the weekend and vacated the scheduled hearing for claim proceedings after the only individual who earlier claimed the money withdrew his declaration.
The $46,000 cash, which is in the custody of the Drug Enforcement Administration, was recovered from a Barrigada residence which is also a subject of a forfeiture proceeding.
The alleged owners of the Barrigada house at Borja Street, Judith Ann F. Mateo and her son Jacob, were arrested on the same buy bust operation on Aug. 21, 2006.
Since their arrest, the property has been unoccupied.
The mother and son pleaded guilty to the charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine hydrochloride and distribution of methamphetamine.
An accomplice, Robert Duenas Quidachay, also confessed that Mateo was trafficking drug out of her Barrigada residence.
Civil forfeiture actions were brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office against the Barrigada residence and all the property derived from proceeds traceable to the violation of the controlled substances law.
A notice for claimants in the property has been issued but only John Blas filed a petition on Dec. 29, 2006. Blas, however, cancelled and withdrew his claim on Jan. 29, 2007.
The Barrigada house and lot is being claimed by Mateo, who is asserting her ownership of the property. The civil forfeiture action against the property is still pending.
During the search of the property on Aug. 21, 2006, agents seized voluminous records dating back several years, which showed records of drug transactions. Agents also seized two firearms, drug paraphernalia, drug scales, and a camera security system.
During a pretrial release interview, Mateo told U.S. Probation Officer Chris Duenas that she was employed as an agriculture worker and had $600 debts.