Federal Court Upholds Restitution Deal for Kwame Kilpatrick, Paving Way for Ongoing Garnishment Efforts
A federal court in Detroit has approved a restitution deal for former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, clearing the way for ongoing efforts to collect more than $823,000 from the former city official. The agreement brings an end to Kilpatrick's attempts to have his remaining balance declared paid in full.
The stipulated agreement, which was reached between Kilpatrick and federal prosecutors before being presented to the court, sets a final restitution balance of $823,649.09. Under the terms of the agreement, Kilpatrick waived his right to a hearing under the Federal Debt Collection Procedures Act and acknowledged that his pension benefits and other income are subject to garnishment.
The court has also approved two sealed orders tied to the stipulation, including a final order of continuing garnishment involving the Michigan Legislative Retirement System. With this latest development, federal authorities can now move forward with ongoing efforts to collect the remaining balance from Kilpatrick's pension and other sources of income.
Kilpatrick's attorneys had previously argued that his remaining restitution balance was closer to $155,000, but the court has rejected these claims as superseded by the agreed-upon amount. The judge did not address the substance of Kilpatrick's arguments once the stipulation was entered into.
The case against Kilpatrick is rooted in corruption allegations during his time as mayor, which led to a 24-count conviction in 2013. He was initially sentenced to 28 years in prison but was granted clemency by President Donald Trump in January 2021 and later re-sentenced to time served with three years of supervised release.
Federal prosecutors have continued to pursue restitution through additional actions, including filings involving individuals connected to earlier restitution obligations. With the restitution balance now fixed and collection mechanisms approved, the court's order effectively closes Kilpatrick's latest challenge while allowing federal enforcement to move forward.
A federal court in Detroit has approved a restitution deal for former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, clearing the way for ongoing efforts to collect more than $823,000 from the former city official. The agreement brings an end to Kilpatrick's attempts to have his remaining balance declared paid in full.
The stipulated agreement, which was reached between Kilpatrick and federal prosecutors before being presented to the court, sets a final restitution balance of $823,649.09. Under the terms of the agreement, Kilpatrick waived his right to a hearing under the Federal Debt Collection Procedures Act and acknowledged that his pension benefits and other income are subject to garnishment.
The court has also approved two sealed orders tied to the stipulation, including a final order of continuing garnishment involving the Michigan Legislative Retirement System. With this latest development, federal authorities can now move forward with ongoing efforts to collect the remaining balance from Kilpatrick's pension and other sources of income.
Kilpatrick's attorneys had previously argued that his remaining restitution balance was closer to $155,000, but the court has rejected these claims as superseded by the agreed-upon amount. The judge did not address the substance of Kilpatrick's arguments once the stipulation was entered into.
The case against Kilpatrick is rooted in corruption allegations during his time as mayor, which led to a 24-count conviction in 2013. He was initially sentenced to 28 years in prison but was granted clemency by President Donald Trump in January 2021 and later re-sentenced to time served with three years of supervised release.
Federal prosecutors have continued to pursue restitution through additional actions, including filings involving individuals connected to earlier restitution obligations. With the restitution balance now fixed and collection mechanisms approved, the court's order effectively closes Kilpatrick's latest challenge while allowing federal enforcement to move forward.
. And now they're gonna take his pension too? That's kinda harsh, if you ask me 
. It feels like a lot of stress for someone who's already been through so much.
But on the bright side, now we know exactly where the money is coming from and how it'll be collected - which is gotta be some kinda comfort for all the people affected by Kilpatrick's actions. And hey, at least he's acknowledging his mistakes & taking responsibility for 'em... that takes a lot of courage 
. Plus, this just means the feds can keep going after other folks who might've been involved in the corruption scandal - so maybe we'll see some real accountability pop up! 
I just can't believe kwame kilpatrick is still facing this kind of financial struggle after everything he went through. it's like his actions caught up with him and now his pension is being affected 
anyway, i think it's awesome that the court finally gave a verdict and paved the way for federal authorities to collect what's owed 
. I mean, come on $823k? That's not even a drop in the bucket compared to what they're making off our tax dollars 
! This is just another case of them thinking they can outrun their problems, but deep down we all know the truth 
. It's like they're playing a game of cat and mouse with us, just to keep themselves in power 
...
anyway what really gets me is that he's still getting his pension benefits and income garnished... like shouldn't he have been done with paying restitution by now? 
I mean the amount is still kinda small at $823k but it's still a lot. And it's not like he was just taking bribes or something, corruption can happen in any field. The judge just accepted the deal and moved on to other things... 
what about justice? 
. The fact that he was able to negotiate a deal without having to pay the full amount is just another example of how broken our justice system is 
.
... I mean, $823k is nothing compared to what he did! He should be paying way more than that for all the corruption and scandal he was involved in. Now his pension is going towards paying off the rest of the debt? It's just not fair 
after serving 3 years of a 28-year sentence. That's like paying for your coffee and then getting a full refund because the barista spilled some on their shirt. Not impressed, but hey, justice (or at least a good lawyer) served! 
The fact that he was able to negotiate down his restitution from $823k to $155k is just icing on the cake – I mean, who doesn't love a good game of numbers with taxpayer dollars? 
. The court's decision is totally logical – if the stipulation is binding, then the garnishment orders are legit too. It's not rocket science 
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. Back in the day, if you couldn't pay your debts, you'd just have to deal with it and move on 
.
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anyway guess the courts r just making sure ppl like kilpatrick dont get away w/ their wrongdoings 