Former Rockford Man Pleads Guilty to Bankruptcy Fraud

ROCKFORD—A former Rockford man pleaded guilty today in federal court to bankruptcy fraud. Jorge Pina, 44, of Eagle Pass, Texas, admitted to making a false statement in a document he signed under penalty of perjury in his 2009 bankruptcy case filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court in Rockford.

In a written plea agreement, Pina admitted he filed a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Petition in October 2009, including Schedules of Assets and Liabilities and a Statement of Financial Affairs. On Schedule A of his bankruptcy schedules, Pina intentionally omitted his ownership interest in real property located in Eagle Pass, Texas. Pina admitted he signed his Schedules of Assets and Liabilities under penalty of perjury, knowing Schedule A was false. Pina had equity interest of approximately $43,000 in the Texas property.

The charge in this case carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and mandatory restitution. The actual sentence will be determined by the United States District Court, guided by the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines. Sentencing has been set for July 10, 2012 at 9:30 a.m.

The guilty plea was announced by Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert D. Grant, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Love.