Former Idaho Falls Man Sentenced for Bankruptcy Fraud - East Idaho News
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Former Idaho Falls Man Sentenced for Bankruptcy Fraud

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The following is a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho.

POCATELLO — Benjamin Gunn, 47, of Rock Springs, Wyoming, was sentenced today to two months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for one count of bankruptcy fraud, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Gunn to pay a fine of $2,000. Gunn pleaded guilty to the charge on January 28, 2016.

According to the plea agreement, Gunn and his now ex-wife filed for bankruptcy in May 2011, and made false representations in schedules and a statement of financial affairs filed with their bankruptcy petition. The Gunns, under penalty of perjury, misrepresented the value of a 1968 Camaro which they had previously sold, and they falsely claimed that they held another asset, a 2008 Artic Cat Prowler Utility Task Vehicle (UTV), as “property held for another person.” The misrepresentations totaled $18,190. The Gunns admitted in court that they provided the false information to mislead and conceal assets and influence and prevent the Chapter 7 trustee from seizing and selling assets in the course of the bankruptcy proceedings.

Melody Gunn, a co-defendant in the case, was sentenced on April 12, 2016, to three years of probation, with a period of home confinement, for her role in the crime.

The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI).

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