CHICAGO— A 49-year-old who hid cars valued at about $294,000 during his 2012 bankruptcy proceedings was charged with fraud, federal officials said.
The charges allege that Joseph W. Campbell, 49, concealed cars having a total value of approximately $294,000, including the following vehicles:
- Lamborghini worth $122,000
- 1966 Chevrolet Corvette
- 1971 Chevrolet Corvette
- 1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
- 1981 DeLorean
- 1989 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
- 1997 Dodge Viper
Campbell will be arraigned at a later date in U.S. District Court.
According to the information filed in court, Campbell is also charged with lying under oath about his ownership of the cars in testimony he provided during a creditors’ meeting, a discovery deposition, and a bankruptcy court hearing.
The charges allege that while Campbell’s bankruptcy was pending, he sold the Lamborghini for approximately $122,000, and spent the proceeds.
In addition, although the judge presiding over Campbell’s bankruptcy had issued an order directing him to turn over five of the cars, Campbell kept the cars, in direct violation of the judge’s order.
After learning that the bankruptcy trustee was seeking court authorization to access the garage where Campbell was storing the cars, Campbell moved the cars, in the middle of the night, to various locations in order to conceal them, according to officials.
Campbell is facing up to five years in prison.