DES MOINES, IA - On April 18, 2017, Elizabeth Ann Thayer, age 61, of Runnells, Iowa, was sentenced by United States District Judge Stephanie M. Rose for concealing assets belonging to her bankruptcy estate, announced United States Attorney Kevin E. VanderSchel. She was sentenced to 32 months of probation, ordered to complete community service, and to pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.
On Dec. 14, 2016, Judge Rose sentenced Elizabeth’s husband, George Bradley Thayer, age 66, for the same offense. He was ordered to serve 36 months of probation, to include one year in home confinement, and to pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.
On Jan. 27, 2011, George and Elizabeth Thayer filed a joint individual Chapter 7 bankruptcy with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Iowa. On Dec. 10, 2010, the Thayers conveyed 20 acres of farm property to a relative. In their bankruptcy filings, they knowingly failed to disclose their continuing interest in the land and knowingly failed to disclose the transfer of the property to a relative, despite their obligations to make both disclosures in the filings. On March 21, 2011, each falsely asserted to the bankruptcy trustee under oath that there had been no transfers of property to a relative within the last two years.
This case was investigated by the Office of the United States Trustee. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Learn more about this release by calling Rachel J. Scherle at 515-473-9300, or by emailing her at Rachel.Scherle@usdoj.gov.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
