[efes]

> The US Marshals enforce (federal) court orders. He was subject to a court order mandating the payment of a debt.

That is itself absurd. As a private person you can really only ask courts to put liens on property (or garnishes on income) to get your money. You essentially must identify specific property you own due to their lack of payment as not paying you isn't a crime.

> It's not like he fell into arrears and they "just showed up". If it was a mortgage debt, or an eviction proceeding, typically it'd be the local sheriff.

No, they interfere to allow property to be taken by its rightful owner as decided by a court. If you don't struggle to stay in a house you are not arrested when evicted.

[jschwartzi]

If you fail to comply with a court order, can't you be held in contempt?