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.
“American Chopper” star Paul Teutul filed a statement of financial affairs as part of his amended bankruptcy petition and revealed that he is millions of dollars in debt, Page Six reported. He filed for chapter 13 in February. Teutul claimed that he makes $16,530.81 per month in the court documents, but his monthly expenses ring in at $20,129.17. He listed his home — which is in foreclosure — in Montgomery, N.Y., as “fee simple.” Teutul also listed that his 20-acre property with a mobile home is valued at $201,548 and his car, boat and trailer collection is valued at $208,550. His gun collection rings in at $1,575. Meanwhile, he reported he has just $16,352.62 and $7,762.78 in two separate checking accounts and just $20,425.35 in a SAG pension. His 401K from Orange County Choppers Inc. is worth $134,524.87. Teutul listed that he owns a rescue farm of one alpaca, two goats, two pot belly pigs, two babydoll sheep, two West Highland cows, one pitou donkey, one mammoth donkey, one Arabian horse, four mini horses, two draft horses, five mini donkeys and seven barn cats. His main debts come from his business, as he owes thousands of dollars for various guarantees of corporate obligations and his business credit cards have bills totaling $66,777.55 and he owes thousands of dollars in various judgments from litigation. Teutul has a $32,000 judgment against him by Hudson Valley Merchandising and a $51,841.01 claim against him from JTM Motorsports Inc. He also reported that he is currently involved in eight lawsuits.
