Neillsville Man Sentenced to Jail for Bankruptcy Fraud
| U.S. Attorney’s Office September 09, 2013 |
MADISON, WI—John W. Vaudreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced today that Brett Pohle, 45, Neillsville, Wisconsin, was sentenced Friday, September 6, by U.S. District Judge William Conley, to 30 days in jail and a $5,000 fine for bankruptcy fraud. Pohle was also ordered to pay restitution to his bankruptcy creditors. Pohle pleaded guilty to concealing assets in his Chapter 7 bankruptcy on June 14, 2013.
In connection with his bankruptcy fraud, Pohle also convinced another individual to sign a false bill to support Pohle’s story that he had sold a recreational camper to him, when in reality, Pohle still owned the camper. Pohle convinced the same individual to commit perjury in front of the federal grand jury investigating the criminal case.
Judge Conley noted at the sentencing that although the value of the concealed assets was only about $4,800, jail was appropriate because Pohle’s actions went to the heart of both the bankruptcy system and the justice system. Judge Conley also explained that he was ordering Pohle to pay a $5,000 fine, in addition to the jail time and restitution, so that Pohle faced greater economic consequences as a result of his fraud in the case.
The charges against Pohle were the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Trustee’s Office. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Duchemin.