Feds Zero In On Comerica Cash Stash In Kwame Kilpatrick Restitution Hunt

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Federal prosecutors seeking repayment of money owed by former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick have identified a bank account that could contribute toward his remaining restitution balance. According to a recent court filing, the account contains $13,167 and is held at Comerica Bank under the name Pathfinder Consulting Firm LLC.

Prosecutors believe the funds could be used to reduce the approximately $823,649 Kilpatrick still owes taxpayers following his 2013 federal conviction. The discovery is part of an ongoing effort that has stretched on for months as authorities work to locate assets that may be applied toward the outstanding judgment.

The Detroit News first reported that a Comerica representative revealed the account balance after receiving a court order requiring the bank to disclose any assets connected to the case. The filing states that the account belongs to Pathfinder Consulting Firm LLC, and prosecutors have requested that the money in the account be directed toward Kilpatrick’s restitution debt. The request was submitted alongside other post-judgment filings as investigators continue searching for sources of repayment.

Earlier this year, in February, Kilpatrick agreed to a sealed repayment arrangement that placed the remaining restitution amount at $823,649.09. Under that agreement, the government is permitted to continue garnishing income from his pension and other earnings. The agreement followed months of legal disputes over the exact amount Kilpatrick owed and how the restitution should be calculated.

Business records from the state of Michigan and information included in the federal filing list Laticia Kilpatrick as the resident agent for Pathfinder Consulting Firm LLC. Property records also indicate that the company owns a 5,673-square-foot home in Novi valued at roughly $1 million, according to reporting by The Detroit News. While those records may provide investigators with additional avenues to explore, assets listed on paper are not automatically available for government seizure.

Court records show prosecutors have also sent asset discovery requests to other financial institutions, including Navy Federal Credit Union, Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union, and Comerica. Investigators are attempting to determine whether any additional accounts, policies, or financial holdings could be used to satisfy the restitution order. The renewed search comes after recent court developments prompted authorities to take another look at where money connected to the case might be located.

Although the $13,167 discovered in the Comerica account represents only a small portion of Kilpatrick’s remaining balance, federal restitution and debt-collection laws allow any identified funds to be applied toward the judgment. Courts have already authorized the garnishment of pension payments and other income, and prosecutors have previously examined financial connections involving relatives and associates while searching for additional assets.

How much of the remaining restitution will ultimately be recovered remains uncertain. The outcome will depend on what financial records reveal and whether potential assets are protected, belong to others, or are otherwise unavailable for collection.

Kilpatrick has previously sought to reduce or eliminate his restitution obligations. In December, he filed a motion asking the court to end the required payments entirely. For now, the discovery of the Comerica account provides investigators with a small recovery and another potential lead as the government continues its efforts to recoup money owed to Detroit taxpayers.

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