Most of us assume that with the strict regulations governing bankruptcy, it is unlikely that bankruptcy fraud crimes still occur. However, a Bethesda woman who pleaded guilty to using a bankruptcy scheme to defraud creditors was recently sentenced in federal court to more than two years in prison. She must also serve three years supervised release after she leaves prison, and she has been ordered to pay more than $150,000 in restitution. According to reports, she used the Chapter 7 bankruptcy process to defraud people to whom she owed money. She misappropriated money, hid property and assets and failed to use insurance money to make repairs or report the proceeds in her bankruptcy filing. In an unrelated matter, a Dallas, Texas woman who filed multiple bankruptcy filings was also recently charged with fraud. The woman reportedly filed for bankruptcy at least six times in four years. After multiple attempts at filing, her activity was noticed by federal officials who brought bankruptcy fraud charges against her. Bankruptcy fraud is a serious federal offense that may include a 5 year prison term and a $250,000 fine if convicted. Hiding or purposely leaving out information when filing is one of the most common ways bankruptcy fraud is committed. Thus, if you are considering filing a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 case, contact Levitt & Slafkes, P.C. to ensure that your filing is correct. If you are interested in learning more about Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, contact Levitt & Slafkes, P.C. We are experienced in handling a variety of bankruptcy issues. Our offices are conveniently located in South Orange, New Jersey. Please call us at 973-323-2953 or online to schedule your free initial consultation today.