Joel C. Riley from Wallingford, Conn., was arrested on Monday on a criminal complaint charging him with bankruptcy fraud and identity theft, the New Haven (Conn.) Register reported. Riley was also charged with conspiracy to commit bankruptcy fraud and identity theft, according to U.S. Attorney John H. Durham. As alleged in the complaint, on Dec. 15, 2016, Riley visited an attorney claiming that he had power of attorney for another person who was ill, and that he wanted to file a bankruptcy petition on the victim’s behalf. The attorney told Riley that the attorney needed to meet with the victim in person to confirm her identity. After several delays, on June 6, 2017, Riley and a woman claiming to be the victim met with the attorney at his office, according to the complaint. The woman presented a Connecticut driver’s license in the name of the victim as identification. That same day, the parties reviewed and signed a chapter 7 bankruptcy petition, which the attorney filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut. The petition listed unsecured debts of approximately $277,000. The complaint further alleges that, later in June 2017, the victim tried to use a department store credit card and learned that a bankruptcy petition had been filed in her name, without her knowledge and authorization. On June 28, 2017, the victim met with the attorney and said she did not file for bankruptcy.
