A US lawyer suing Daniel Kinahan believes the mob boss’s days are numbered – and the DEA will soon get their hands on him.
Former marine Eric Montalvo is suing MTK Global and Kinahan on behalf of boxing promoter Moses Heredia, who is seeking damages of up to $20million (€18.7m) for the alleged poaching of boxer JoJo Diaz.
New papers were filed yesterday informing a US court that Kinahan has been personally served notice in the case – as Mr Montalvo pleads for the presiding judge to issue a default judgement.
Read more: Man who sold passport used by Kinahan spotted in hometown
Mr Montalvo said: “We have achieved service on Mr Kinahan and MTK Global and we are going to be pursuing discovery against both of those defendants and look forward to a final hearing where the judge can evaluate the information we have collected and determine an appropriate judgement.
“All of our efforts are to bring this case to a conclusion and get a money judgement so we can collect that and provide for the victims of some of the violence that has been perpetrated by the Kinahans.”
Mr Montalvo is now more confident than ever that the case will go his way as he says sanctions imposed upon the Kinahans by the US Treasury Department last year effectively means they cannot launch any legal defence.
He added: “I feel very optimistic that we will achieve a settlement that addresses the harm.” In April 2022, the US government imposed crippling sanctions on Kinahan and issued a $15million (€14m) reward for information that could lead to his prosecution.
As a result, Mr Montalvo now believes the seized assets can be used to pay his client. He said: “The assets appear to be available so, yes, I feel there is a high degree of certainty we will be able to, if we obtain a judgement amount, that we will be able to collect on that judgement amount.
“For the purposes of civil litigation I don’t actually need to physically get to him [Daniel Kinahan], I just need to get to the amount of money.”
The US Drug Enforcement Agency is leading the massive transnational investigation into Kinahan, who is still believed to be holed up in Dubai.
Almost a year on since the investigation was announced, Mr Montalvo believes the DEA will soon have Kinahan in custody.
He said: “I’m very familiar with the process, capability and the cooperation that is entered into various governments because you know the DEA can’t do anything on their own; what they have to do is rely upon their partners in other jurisdictions to help facilitate things, Our law enforcement all over the planet is connected right now.
“So I do believe if their true goal is to gain custody of him then I do believe it will be achieved.”
In the past year notorious figures such as Italian mob boss Raffaele Imperiale were lifted in Dubai as part of a massive international effort to crack down on a so-called “super cartel” operating across Europe.
Mr Montalvo believes Kinahan sits at the top of the list of targets in this huge investigation.
He said: “His compatriots over there have been collected right, and that’s by design because if you look at the process you’re always going to look for the smaller fish before you get to the big fish.
“They’re building the case of what will be the final swan song which will be detaining and arresting Daniel Kinahan.”
Sources say the mobster is frequently seen in the Palm area of Dubai and is brazenly believes he will escape prosecution.
Kinahan is also wanted for questioning by gardai in connection with murders associated with the Kinahan Hutch feud.
READ NEXT:
Adopted man discovers wife of six years is actually his sister
Dogs Trust seek home for 'petrified' dog rescued from puppy farm this Mother's Day
RTE's Claire Byrne overtakes Miriam O’Callaghan as favourite to host the Late Late Show
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar apologises for 'off the cuff remark' about Bill Clinton intern scandal
Dublin weather: Bleak forecast for St Patrick's Day as washout predicted
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox.
