Opinion ID: 756443
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Currency May be Used as a Set-Off

Text: 35 Finally, Ikelionwu claims that, if he recovers the forfeited currency, the money should not be used as a set-off against his outstanding debt to the United States (a fine in the amount of $250,000, plus interest). We disagree. 36 Under 31 U.S.C. § 3728(a), [t]he Secretary of the Treasury shall withhold paying that part of a judgment against the United States Government presented to the Comptroller General that is equal to a debt the plaintiff owes the Government. 31 U.S.C. § 3728(a) (Supp.1998). Moreover, the United States as creditor has at least as much right to a set-off as an ordinary person. Malman v. United States, 202 F.2d 483, 485 (2d Cir.1953); see United States v. Duncan, 918 F.2d 647, 654 (6th Cir.1990) (cash seized during arrest may be applied to fine imposed at sentencing). Nothing indicates that it would be inappropriate to reduce the judgment in this case to off-set the amount of Ikelionwu's outstanding fine. Therefore, we affirm Judge Nickerson's finding that a set-off is appropriate.