Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_24-mc-00271/USCOURTS-caed-2_24-mc-00271-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Gregory Scott Baker
Defendant
United States of America
Plaintiff

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff,

v.

GREGORY SCOTT BAKER,

Defendant.

Case No. 2:24-mc-00271-TLN-CSK

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

FOR A FINAL ORDER OF CONTINUING 

GARNISHMENT 

(ECF No. 7)

Presently before the Court is Plaintiff United States of America’s Request for 

Findings and Recommendations for a Final Order of Continuing Garnishment pursuant 

to 28 U.S.C. § 3205(c)(7).

1 Pl.’s Req. (ECF No. 7). Plaintiff requests a final order of 

continuing garnishment against twenty-five percent (25%) of the non-exempt disposable 

earnings of Defendant Gregory Scott Baker (“Debtor”), the defendant in criminal case 

number 2:12-cr-00294 (E.D. Cal.). For the reasons stated below, the Court recommends 

granting Plaintiff’s request. 

I. BACKGROUND

On May 26, 2016, Debtor was sentenced in criminal case number 2:12-CR000294, and ordered to pay a statutory assessment of $300.00 and restitution in the 

1 This matter proceeds before the undersigned pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636 and Local 

Rule 302(c). 

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amount of $18,509,296.00. United States v. Gregory Scott Baker, Case No. 2:12-cr00294-TLN (E.D. Cal. 2016), (ECF Nos. 180, 182). Plaintiff proffers that as of July 3, 

2024, Debtor still owes $5,854,276.92, with no interest accruing. Pl.’s Req ¶ 2. To collect 

the judgment owed by Debtor, on July 3, 2024, Plaintiff commenced this miscellaneous 

action by filing an application for a writ of continuing garnishment of the earnings of 

Debtor, through the Garnishee Solace Enterprises, Inc. (“Garnishee”). (ECF No. 1.)

On July 12, 2024, the Clerk of the Court issued the writ of continuing garnishment 

of earnings. (ECF No. 3.) On July 18, 2024, Plaintiff filed a certificate of service 

demonstrating the Garnishee was served with the writ of continuing garnishment and 

related materials. (ECF No. 4.) On July 23, 2024, Plaintiff filed a certificate of service 

demonstrating the Debtor was served at his last known address with: (1) instructions to 

Debtor on how to claim exemptions and claim for exemption form; (2) instructions to 

Debtor re: objecting to the answer of garnishee; (3) the application for writ of continuing 

garnishment; (4) the issued writ of continuing garnishment; (5) the issued Clerk's notice 

to Debtor re: writ of continuing garnishment; and (5) a judgment debtor's request for 

hearing form. (ECF No. 5.)

On July 29, 2024, the Garnishee served its acknowledgment of service and 

answer, confirming that Debtor is an employee of Garnishee and identifying the Debtor’s 

gross weekly pay, mandatory withholdings, and interest in an employee sponsored 

retirement plan. ECF No. 6 at 1-2. The answer was served on Debtor on July 29, 2024. 

Id. at 2-3. On August 29, 2024, Plaintiff filed the instant request for findings and 

recommendations for a final order of garnishment. Pl.’s Req.

II. LEGAL STANDARDS

The Federal Debt Collection Procedure Act pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 3001, et 

seq. (the “FDCPA”), “sets forth the ‘exclusive civil procedures for the United States...to 

recover a judgment on...an amount that is owing to the United States on account 

of...restitution.’” United States v. Mays, 430 F.3d 963, 965 (9th Cir. 2005) (quoting 

28 U.S.C. §§ 3001(a)(1), 3002(3)(B)). Under the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act 

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(“MVRA”), the United States may enforce a judgment imposing a fine, including 

restitution, in accordance with the practices and procedures for enforcing a civil 

judgment under the FDCPA. See Mays, 430 F.3d at 965 n.2. The FDCPA provides that 

“[a] court may issue a writ of garnishment against property (including nonexempt 

disposable earnings) in which the debtor has a substantial nonexempt interest and which 

is in the possession, custody, or control of a person other than the debtor, in order to 

satisfy the judgment against the debtor.” 28 U.S.C. § 3205(a). “Disposable earnings” is 

defined as “that part of earnings remaining after all deductions required by law have 

been withheld.” 28 U.S.C. § 3002(5). “Nonexempt disposable earnings,” in turn, “means 

25 percent of disposable earnings, subject to section 303 of the Consumer Credit 

Protection Act.” 28 U.S.C. § 3002(9). The principal restriction imposed by the Consumer 

Credit Protection Act is that garnishment of an individual's disposable earnings is limited 

to twenty-five percent of the debtor's weekly earnings. 15 U.S.C. § 1673(a)(1). 

Additionally, “the United States is entitled to recover a surcharge of 10 percent of the 

amount of the debt in connection with the recovery of the debt, to cover the cost of 

processing and handling the litigation and enforcement...of the claim for such debt.” 

28 U.S.C. § 3011(a). 

Under the FDCPA, the United States is required to provide the judgment debtor 

with notice of the commencement of garnishment proceedings. 28 U.S.C. §§ 3202(b)-(c). 

The judgment debtor has twenty (20) days after receipt of the notice to request a 

hearing, during which the judgment debtor may move to quash any order granting the 

garnishment. 28 U.S.C. § 3202(d). If a garnishment hearing is held, it is limited to the 

issues of: (1) “the probable validity of any claim of exemption by the judgment debtor;” 

(2) “compliance with any statutory requirement for the issuance of the postjudgment 

remedy granted;” and (3) “if the judgment is by default and only to the extent that the 

Constitution or another law of the United States provides a right to a hearing on the 

issue, to—(A) the probably validity of the claim for the debt which is merged in the 

judgment; and (B) the existence of good cause for setting aside such judgment.” Id.

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III. DISCUSSION

Plaintiff states that as of July 3, 2024, Debtor still owed restitution in the amount of 

$5,854.276.92, with such amount not accruing interest. Pl.’s Req ¶ 2. Among other 

things, the documents served on July 23, 2024, advised Debtor of his rights to claim 

exemptions to garnishment, to object to the Garnishee's acknowledgement of service 

and the Garnishee's answer, and to request a hearing. (ECF No. 5.) Specifically, Debtor

was advised that he had twenty (20) days from the date he received the Garnishee's 

answer to claim exemptions or request a hearing in opposition as required by 28 U.S.C. 

§ 3202(d). ECF No. 5-1 at 1. Debtor has not filed any opposition to this garnishment 

proceeding, has not claimed exemptions, has not objected to the answer, and has not 

requested a hearing. The time to do so has also expired. Accordingly, the Court will 

recommend that an order issue directing the Garnishee as to the disposition of Debtor’s 

nonexempt disposable wages. 

Plaintiff also seeks to recover a ten percent (10%) litigation surcharge of the 

judgment amount balance pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 3011(a). Pl.’s Req. ¶ 9(C). The 

FDCPA provides that the United States is entitled to recover a litigation surcharge in 

connection with the recovery of a debt. 28 U.S.C. § 3011(a). A defendant's criminal 

monetary penalties, including the assessment, fine, and restitution, all constitute “debt” 

as defined by the FDCPA. 28 U.S.C. § 3002(3)(B). The debt recovery action must be 

one that arises under the FDCPA's pre-judgment remedies or post-judgment remedies. 

28 U.S.C. § 3011(a). Plaintiff’s garnishment action here is a qualifying post-judgment 

remedy under 28 U.S.C. § 3205. Subject to exclusions not applicable here, § 3011 

provides that the recoverable surcharge amount is 10% of the debt. 28 U.S.C. § 3011(a). 

Here, Plaintiff seeks a litigation surcharge in the amount of $585,427.69. Pl.’s Req. 

¶ 9(C). This amount represents 10% of the 5,854,276.92 owed as of July 3, 2024. Id. at 

¶¶ 2, 9(C). Because Plaintiff is entitled to a 10% surcharge on the amount of the debt 

owed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 3011(a), the Court will recommend a litigation surcharge 

be awarded in the amount of $585,427.69. See 28 U.S.C. § 3011(a); United States v. 

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Crosby, 2022 WL 3211750, at *2 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 9, 2022) (recommending a 10% 

litigation surcharge of $212,868.58 be granted), report and recommendation adopted, 

2:22-mc-00180-JAM-KJN, Dkt No. 21 (E.D. Cal. Sept. 9, 2022); United States v. Brady, 

2022 WL 1684550, at *3 (E.D. Cal. May 26, 2022) (recommending a 10% litigation 

surcharge), report and recommendation adopted, 2022 WL 2344109 (E.D. Cal. June 29, 

2022).

IV. CONCLUSION

Based upon the findings above, the Court RECOMMENDS:

1. Plaintiff’s Request for Findings and Recommendations for a Final Order of 

Continuing Garnishment (ECF No. 7) be GRANTED;

2. Garnishee Solace Enterprises, Inc., be directed to pay the Clerk of the United 

States District Court twenty-five percent (25%) of Debtor Gregory Scott 

Baker’s ongoing and non-exempt disposable earnings, including, but not 

limited to wages, earnings, commissions, and bonuses;

3. Garnishee Solace Enterprises, Inc., be directed to pay the Clerk of the United 

States District Court the amount of non-exempt disposable earnings already 

held pursuant to the writ, including, but not limited to wages, earnings, 

commissions, and bonuses, within fifteen (15) days of the filing of the Final 

Order. Payment shall be made in the form of a check, money order, or 

company draft, made payable to the “Clerk of the Court” and delivered to:

Office of the Clerk, United States District Court

501 I St., Rm. 4-200

Sacramento, CA 95814

The criminal docket number (2:12-CR-00294-TLN) shall be stated on the 

payment instrument;

4. Plaintiff be entitled to recover a $585,427.69 litigation surcharge after 

satisfaction of the judgment amount owed by Debtor Gregory Scott Baker; and

5. The garnishment shall terminate when the United States seeks to terminate 

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the writ or when the judgment amount and litigation surcharge are fully 

satisfied. 

These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District 

Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within 

14 days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file 

written objections with the Court and serve a copy on all parties. This document should 

be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Any 

reply to the objections shall be served on all parties and filed with the Court within 14

days after service of the objections. Failure to file objections within the specified time 

may waive the right to appeal the District Court’s order. Turner v. Duncan, 158 F.3d 449, 

455 (9th Cir. 1998); Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153, 1156-57 (9th Cir. 1991).

Dated: December 18, 2024

4, usa0271.24

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