UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
IN RE: APPLICATION FOR EXEMPTION Administrative Order
FROM THE ELECTRONIC PUBLIC No. 21-MS-070
ACCESS FEES BY CHRISTOPHER HUHN
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This matter is before the Court upon the application and request by Christopher
Huhn for exemption from the fees imposed by the Electronic Public Access fee schedule
adopted by the Judicial Conference of the United States Courts.
The Court finds that Christopher Huhn, a student at the Naval Postgraduate
School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security, falls within the class of users listed
in the fee schedule as being eligible for a fee exemption. Additionally, Huhn has
demonstrated that an exemption is necessary in order to avoid unreasonable burdens
and to promote public access to information in order to write his thesis on a matter of
significance to U.S. Homeland Security.
Accordingly, Huhn shall be exempt from the payment of fees for access via PACER
to the electronic case files maintained in this Court, to the extent such use is incurred in
the course of researching the threat money mules represent to the financial services
sector, the role they played in cyber-enabled fraud targeting COVID-19 financial relief
programs, and the effectiveness of government efforts to disrupt money mule
networks. Huhn anticipates accessing approximately 100 cases nationwide. From these
100 cases, Huhn will access criminal complaints, indictments and felony information
related to subjects charged with money laundering (in violation of 18 USC § 1956),
unlicensed money transmission (in violation of 18 USC § 1960), and related crimes
constituting money laundering's underlying specified unlawful activities (e.g., wire fraud
and bank fraud) where money mules were employed.
Huhn shall not be exempt from the payment of fees incurred in connection with
other uses of the PACER system in this Court. Additionally, the following limitations apply:
1. This fee exemption applies only to Huhn (PACER Account # 6912714), and
is valid only for the purposes stated above;
2. This fee exemption applies only to the electronic case files of this Court that
are available through the PACER system;
3. By accepting this exemption, Huhn agrees not to sell for profit any data
obtained as a result of receiving this exemption;
4. Huhn is prohibited from transferring any data obtained as a result of
receiving this exemption, including redistribution via internet-based
databases;
5. This exemption is valid until March 24, 2023.
This Order may be revoked at the discretion of the Court at any time. A copy of
this Order shall be sent to the PACER Service Center.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
FOR THE COURT:
Dated: October 21, 2021
ROBERT J. JONKER
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
