2016 Delaware Code
Title 11 - Crimes and Criminal Procedure
CHAPTER 15. ORGANIZED CRIME AND RACKETEERING
§ 1507. Racketeering lien notice; lis pendens; construction of section.

(a) Upon the institution of any criminal or civil proceeding under this chapter, the State, then or at any time during the pendency of the proceedings, may file in the official records of any 1 or more counties of this State, a racketeering (or "R.I.C.O.") lien notice. Such notice shall create, and be equivalent to, a lien. No filing fee or other charge shall be required as a condition for filing such lien notice, and the Prothonotary shall, upon the presentation of the lien notice, immediately record it in the official records.

(b) The racketeering (R.I.C.O.) lien notice shall be signed by the Attorney General, the Chief Deputy Attorney General or the State Prosecutor. The notice shall be in such form as the Attorney General shall prescribe and shall set forth the following information:

(1) The name of the person against whom the civil proceeding has been brought. The notice may, but is not required to, list any other aliases, names or fictitious titles under which the person may be known. In its discretion the State may also list any corporation, partnership or other entity which is owned or controlled by such person;

(2) If known to the Attorney General, the present residence and business address of the person named in the racketeering lien notice, and addresses for other names set forth in such lien notice;

(3) A reference to the criminal or civil proceeding, stating that a proceeding under this chapter has been brought against the person named in the racketeering lien notice, and including the name of the county or counties where the proceeding has been initiated;

(4) A statement that the notice is being filed pursuant to this chapter;

(5) The name and address of the agency within the State Department of Justice that can answer any further questions; and

(6) Such other information as the Attorney General shall deem appropriate.

(c) The Attorney General or a Deputy Attorney General may amend any lien filed under this section at any time, by filing an amended racketeering lien in the same manner as a R.I.C.O. lien. An amended racketeering lien shall identify, with reasonable certainty, the lien which is being amended.

(d) The Attorney General or a Deputy Attorney General shall, as soon as practicable after filing the racketeering lien notice, furnish to any person named in the lien a notice of the filing of such lien. The notice may be mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested. Failure to notify the person named in the lien in accordance with this subsection shall not invalidate nor otherwise affect any racketeering lien notice filed in accordance with this section.

(e) A racketeering lien is perfected against interests in personal property by filing the lien notice with the Secretary of State, except that in the case of a titled motor vehicle it shall be filed with the Division of Motor Vehicles. A racketeering lien is perfected against interests in real property by filing the lien notice with the Prothonotary in the county in which the real property is located. The State may give such additional notice of the lien as it deems appropriate.

(f) The filing of a notice of lien in accordance with this section creates a lien in favor of the State in:

(1) Any interest of the defendant in real property situated in the county in which the lien notice is filed, then maintained or thereafter acquired in the name of the defendant identified in the notice;

(2) Any interest of the defendant in personal property situated in this State, then maintained or thereafter acquired in the name of the defendant identified in the lien notice; and

(3) Any property identified in the lien notice to the extent of the defendant's interest therein.

(g) The filing of a racketeering lien notice under this section is notice to all persons dealing with the person or property identified in the lien of the State's claim. The lien created in favor of the State in accordance with this section is superior to and prior to the claims and interests of any other person, except a person possessing:

(1) A valid lien perfected prior to the filing of the racketeering lien notice;

(2) In the case of real property, an interest acquired and recorded prior to the filing of the racketeering lien notice; or

(3) In the case of personal property, an interest acquired prior to the filing of the racketeering lien notice.

(h) Where a trustee conveys title to real property against which a R.I.C.O. lien notice has been filed; and the lien notice has been filed in the county in which the property is located and names a person who, to the actual knowledge of the trustee, holds a beneficial interest in the trust, the trustee shall be liable to the State for the greater of:

(1) The amount of proceeds received directly by the person named in the R.I.C.O. lien notice, as a result of the conveyance;

(2) The amount of proceeds received by the trustee as a result of the conveyance, and distributed to any person named in the lien notice; or

(3) The fair market value of the interest of the person named in the lien notice in the real property so conveyed; provided, however, that if the trustee conveys the real property, and holds proceeds that would otherwise be paid or distributed to the beneficiary (or at the direction of the beneficiary or the beneficiary's designee), the trustee's liability shall not exceed the amount of the proceeds so held for so long as the proceeds are held by the trustee.

(i) Upon entry of judgment in favor of the State, the State may proceed to execute thereon as in the case of any other judgment, except that in order to preserve the State's lien priority, as provided in this section, the State shall (in addition to such other notice as is required by law) give at least 30 days' notice of such execution to any person, possessing at the time such notice is given, an interest recorded subsequent to the date the State's lien was perfected.

(j) Upon the entry of a final judgment in favor of the State, or an order providing for forfeiture of property to the State, the title of the State to the property:

(1) In the case of real property, or a beneficial interest in real property, relates back to the date of filing the racketeering lien notice; or if no racketeering lien notice was filed, then to the date of recording of the final judgment, or an abstract thereof, in the county where the real property is located.

(2) In the case of personal property or a beneficial interest in personal property, relates back to the date the personal property was seized by the State, or the date of filing of a racketeering lien notice in accordance with this section, whichever is earlier; but if the property was not seized, and no racketeering lien was filed, then to the date the final judgment was filed with the Secretary of State, or in the case of a titled motor vehicle, with the Division of Motor Vehicles.

(k) This section shall not limit any right of the State to obtain any order or injunction, receivership, writ, attachment, garnishment or other remedy; nor limit any right of action which is appropriate to protect the interests of the State, or which is available under other applicable law.

(l) In the event the Attorney General determines that the provisions of this section are unclear or insufficient the Attorney General may petition the Superior Court for the promulgation of rules to further clarify, or more effectively accomplish, the intent of this chapter and of this section. Where any rule promulgated by the Court conflicts with any provision of this section, this section shall be paramount.

65 Del. Laws, c. 493, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.;