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Writ of execution to collect $629K from Pelisamen OK’d
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Posted on Aug 22 2011
The federal court on Friday granted the U.S. government’s request for a continuing writ of execution to collect $629,096.60 from convicted former estate administrator Luis Kaipat Pelisamen.
U.S. District Court for the NMI visiting judge Mark W. Bennett ordered the clerk of court to issue the continuing writ of execution to assistant U.S. attorney Jessica F. Cruz, who is representing the U.S. government.
A writ of execution is a court order that allows for the collection of money or property owed by a judgment debtor.
The U.S. government filed the application in court on Thursday. In it, assistant U.S. attorney Mikel W. Schwab said that the U.S. government will intervene in a probate case pending in local courts in order to get its share in the possible distribution of heirship money from Pelisamen.
The federal court had ordered Pelisamen in January 2010 to pay a $200 special assessment fee and $625,775 in criminal restitution for wire fraud, conspiracy to wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Cruz said that Pelisamen still owes $340 of the special assessment fee and $629,096 in criminal restitution.
Cruz said they just learned that Pelisamen is an heir to the Dolores Pelisamen estate and may be entitled to distributions in the estate.
Pelisamen used to serve as administrator of his grandmother’s, Rita Kaipat’s, estate, which received $1.37 million in distribution.
Pelisamen was convicted and has been serving a five-year prison term.
