United States v. Young

325 F. Supp. 3d 830
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Michigan
DecidedSeptember 5, 2018
DocketCASE No. 1:99-CR-33
StatusPublished

This text of 325 F. Supp. 3d 830 (United States v. Young) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Michigan primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Young, 325 F. Supp. 3d 830 (W.D. Mich. 2018).

Opinion

ROBERT J. JONKER, CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

INTRODUCTION

The government has obtained a writ of execution against Mr. Young's interest in an employer sponsored 401(k) plan to apply against a criminal restitution judgment. Mr. Young filed an Objection, and the Court ordered and received further briefing. After careful review of the record, and for the reasons detailed below, Mr. Young's objection is overruled.

DISCUSSION

Mr. Young pleaded guilty to two counts of embezzlement in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 666(a)(1)(A) and one count of money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957. He was sentenced on January 21, 2000 by the Honorable Robert Holmes Bell to 42 months imprisonment. Restitution was ordered in the amount of $1,862,360.00. After adding interest on unpaid amounts, and crediting approximately $20,000.000 in payments made, the government asserts that the total amount currently owed in restitution, interest, and penalties is over $4.4 million.1

On April 27, 2018, the government applied for a writ of execution for approximately $220,000.00 in funds located in Mr. Young's 401(k) Savings Plan. (ECF No. 63). The Clerk of Court issued the writ of execution along with instructions to Mr. Young for filings objections on May 11, 2018. (ECF Nos. 65 & 66). Mr. Young has since filed briefs objecting to the writ *832based on three overarching arguments. First, he contends that the savings plan is protected from execution under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq. Second, Mr. Young argues that the law in Florida, where he now resides, exempts his 401(k) account from execution. Finally, Mr. Young claims that tax penalties for early withdrawal should preclude execution. None of these arguments warrants the relief Mr. Young seeks.

1. ERISA Does Not Preclude the United States from Collecting on the 401(k) Plan.

Mr. Young's argument that the statutory framework of ERISA means the government may not collect on his 401(k) plan is without merit. "[C]ourts have determined that ERISA's anti-alienation provision must 'give way' to other congressional enactments authorizing the collection of debts[.]" United States v. Ibianski , No. 06-51116, 2016 WL 3995939, at *5 (E.D. Mich. July 26, 2016) (citing United States v. Sawaf , 74 F.3d 119, 123-24 (6th Cir. 1996) ). And those circuit courts to have considered the issue have concluded that the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act of 1996 ("MVRA"), 18 U.S.C. § 3663A et seq -the provision under which the restitution order in this case was imposed-supersedes ERISA's anti-alienation provision. Id. (citing United States v. Novak , 476 F.3d 1041, 1048 (9th Cir. 2006) (en banc); United States v. Irving , 452 F.3d 110, 126 (2d Cir. 2006) ; United States v. Hyde , 497 F.3d 103, 107 (1st Cir. 2007) ; and United States v. Hosking , 567 F.3d 329, 334 (7th Cir. 2009) ). The Court finds this authority to be persuasive, and so finds that ERISA's anti-alienation provision does not bar the United States from collecting on Mr. Young's 401(k) plan.

2. Florida Law Does Not Shield the 401(k) Plan From Collection

The MVRA also means Mr. Young cannot succeed on his argument that Florida law, namely Fla. Stat. § 222.21, protects his 401(k) plan from collection by the United States. This is so because the garnishment in this case stems from Mr. Young's federal conviction. As the Sixth Circuit has earlier held:

[T]he provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 3613(a) state that the United States may enforce a judgment imposing a fine, restitution, or assessment against the property of the person fined, with the exception of those exemptions found in 26 U.S.C. § 6334. Section 6334(c) prohibits a criminal defendant from using state exemptions to protect his assets.

United States v. Nash , 175 F.3d 440, 443 (6th Cir. 1999) (emphasis added); see also United States v. Rosin , No. 8:05-cr-143, 2010 WL 454933, at *10 (M.D. Fla. Feb. 9, 2010) (citing Nash and other cases and concluding that under " § 3613(a), state exemptions are not applicable in federal enforcement actions seeking to collecting outstanding restitution"). Accordingly, Florida state law exemptions are not relevant to Mr. Young's case.

3. Any Possibility of Tax Liabilities Does Not Prevent the United States from Executing on the 401(k) Plan.

Finally, the Court is not persuaded by Mr.

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Related

United States v. Hyde
497 F.3d 103 (First Circuit, 2007)
United States v. Ali H. Sawaf and Elena v. Sawaf
74 F.3d 119 (Sixth Circuit, 1996)
United States v. Edward M. Nash
175 F.3d 440 (Sixth Circuit, 1999)
United States v. Emaeyek Ekanem
383 F.3d 40 (Second Circuit, 2004)
United States v. Stefan Irving
452 F.3d 110 (Second Circuit, 2006)
United States v. Raymond P. Novak
476 F.3d 1041 (Ninth Circuit, 2007)
United States v. Hosking
567 F.3d 329 (Seventh Circuit, 2009)

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Bluebook (online)
325 F. Supp. 3d 830, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-young-miwd-2018.