Man Sentenced for Lying in Bankruptcy Proceeding

MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Daniel Doyle, 56, Sanford, South Carolina, formerly of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to one year of probation for fraudulently making false statements under oath in a bankruptcy proceeding. Daniel Doyle pleaded guilty to this felony charge on March 6, 2019.

In March 2014, Doyle filed a bankruptcy petition and schedules that omitted the facts that Doyle had a wife, that she was dying of cancer, and that he was the beneficiary of her life insurance policy worth approximately $250,000.  At the creditors meeting, Doyle continued the concealment and lied under oath, indicating that he was not going to receive a life insurance payment after his wife’s death. 

After Doyle’s debts were discharged, he filed a claim on the life insurance policy and collected over $250,000.  A few months later, the U.S. Trustee received an anonymous call indicating that Doyle received $200,000 in insurance proceeds after his wife’s death, and that he waited until the bankruptcy case had concluded to file a claim. The U.S. Trustee filed a motion to reopen the bankruptcy proceedings, and ultimately, Doyle admitted he lied and agreed to a voluntary dismissal.

In sentencing Doyle, Judge Peterson indicated his hope that other debtors would be deterred by knowing that there are criminal consequences if you try and defraud the bankruptcy court.

The charge against Daniel Doyle was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS Criminal Investigation, with the assistance of the Office of the U.S. Trustee.  The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura A. Przybylinski Finn.