Ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is now accusing federal prosecutors of bullying his family amid a restitution battle.
The disgraced former mayor’s accusations claims the actions forced him to remove his children from school and chilled his business opportunities, according to The Detroit News.
Inside the Fight
Kilpatrick filed a letter in federal court asking Chief U.S. District Judge Stephen Murphy to release a hold on more than $13,000 discovered in a Comerica Bank account.
The account is in the name of Pathfinder Consulting Firm LLC, according to The Detroit News.
The dispute centers on roughly $13,167 in the account linked to his wife LaTicia Kilpatrick’s business. Prosecutors argue the corporation is merely a nominee and that the money belongs to Kilpatrick, according to Deadline Detroit.
Kilpatrick faulted prosecutors for dragging his wife into the restitution fight. LaTicia Kilpatrick has owned the business bank account since 2017 and has no obligation to pay the restitution he wrote, according to The Detroit News.
The former mayor accuses prosecutors of lying, bullying and engaging in conduct much more akin to extortion, CBS News reported.
The alleged bullying, at best, is akin to extortion, as Kilpatrick describes, saying the government’s actions damaged his ability to earn income especially from speaking engagements, according to Deadline Detroit.
Prosecutors are attempting to locate and seize assets to repay taxpayers from the $823,649 Kilpatrick owes after his 2013 racketeering conspiracy conviction.
They have previously seized $6,704 tied to him through financial records, according to Deadline Detroit.
As Finurah previously reported, Kilpatrick argues Pathfinder Consulting is solely owned by his wife. He says he has no role in its finances or operations.
His wife is not subject to the restitution order he contends, according to Deadline Detroit.
Kilpatrick’s Novi home purchased through Pathfinder for $807,000 is on the cusp of foreclosure. More than $50,600 in property taxes have gone unpaid since December 2023.
Kilpatrick faces broader financial strain including $634,655 in alleged unpaid income taxes from an IRS lien. He previously worked under an agreement to make consistent restitution payments, according to Deadline Detroit.
He was convicted in 2013 of running a criminal enterprise inside Detroit City Hall. He rigged contracts and took over $840,000 in bribes and kickbacks, according to The Detroit News.
His 28-year sentence was commuted in 2021 by Donald Trump.
Kilpatrick now works as a minister and public speaker. He says he has been transparent about his income from speaking, preaching and taxes, according to Deadline Detroit.
Prosecutors portray Kilpatrick as living in luxury while failing to repay restitution.
The ongoing hunt for assets continues even after he struck a deal in February 2026 to pay the $823,649 amount.
