DALLAS - Jeff Carlton Noebel, 60, of Dallas, was sentenced yesterday afternoon by U.S. District Judge Jorge A. Solis to four months in federal prison following his guilty plea in March 2015 to an indictment charging one count of bankruptcy fraud, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
According to documents filed in the case, Noebel filed nine bankruptcy petitions from 1992-2013 as part of Noebel’s ongoing effort to stop foreclosure of his residence in Dallas. In February 2013, Noebel filed a bankruptcy petition. On April 23, 2013, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Harlin Hale issued an order that dismissed this bankruptcy petition and barred Noebel from re-filing for 180 days. The goal of the charged bankruptcy fraud scheme was to allow Noebel to avoid compliance with Judge Hale’s court order.
In order to stop the foreclosure sale of Noebel’s house scheduled for June 4, 2013, Noebel caused his brother to force Noebel into “involuntary bankruptcy" to stop the imminent foreclosure sale. As part of the scheme, Noebel deceived his brother by concealing from his brother the existence of Judge Hale’s order barring Noebel from personally refiling for bankruptcy for 180 days. Noebel knew that his brother would refuse to file the involuntary bankruptcy petition on June 3, 2013, if his brother knew about the court order.
This case represents one of several felony prosecutions of bankruptcy-related crimes generated by the recent Bankruptcy Fraud Initiative within the Northern District of Texas. Since February 2013, 12 defendants have been charged with various felony offenses resulting from criminal referrals from the U.S. Trustee’s Office to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Eight defendants have been convicted either following a trial or guilty plea; six have been sentenced. Three defendants are awaiting trial, and one defendant remains in fugitive status with an outstanding arrest warrant.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Jarvis prosecuted.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
