A Bucks County attorney, Alan Kane, has been sentenced to a year and a day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for his involvement in multiple fraud schemes. Kane, 60, from Jamison, Pennsylvania, was also ordered to pay $160,072 in restitution and a $1,000 fine. The sentence was delivered by United States District Court Judge Michael M. Baylson.
In September, Kane was convicted by a federal jury on two counts of bankruptcy fraud, one count of filing a false claim in a bankruptcy proceeding, and one count of making a false statement to the FBI. The charges stemmed from three distinct fraud schemes detailed in a 12-count indictment issued in January 2024. These included a plot to steal a house from a deceased man's family, a plan to defraud the City of Philadelphia out of property taxes related to the stolen house, and an attempt to defraud co-defendant Jonathan Barger’s creditors through bankruptcy.
Kane represented Joseph Ruggiero, who had taken the house, by making false statements to support Ruggiero's claim to its title. This was despite knowing that the deeds were fraudulent. Kane also filed a false counterclaim against the family, alleging that Barger’s company deserved more than $133,000 for alleged work on the house after it was stolen. While asserting in a state court suit that Ruggiero had valid title to the property, Kane told the Social Security Administration the opposite to maintain Ruggiero's eligibility for SSI benefits.
In bankruptcy proceedings, Kane claimed Ruggiero had legitimate ownership, which delayed the family's lawsuit to reclaim the property. He also filed a false claim in this bankruptcy on behalf of Barger’s company to benefit financially if Ruggiero lost the house.
Co-defendant Jonathan Barger, implicated in all three schemes, pleaded guilty in June of the previous year to all charges against him and is set to be sentenced on May 12.
U.S. Attorney David Metcalf remarked, "As officers of the court, attorneys have an ethical and professional obligation to uphold the law. Instead, Alan Kane used his law license to help three clients commit federal crimes. Today’s sentence holds Kane responsible for his outrageous conduct and underscores the importance of respect for the rule of law.”
Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia, added, “White-collar crimes may not involve physical violence, but they are far from victimless. Crimes like bankruptcy fraud undermine trust in our financial systems and harm individuals, businesses, and communities alike. The FBI, working alongside our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, is firmly committed to protecting the integrity of our financial institutions and holding accountable those who manipulate, deceive, and defraud the public through complex and deceptive schemes.”
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, with the case being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Dubnoff and Special Assistant United States Attorney Hannah McCollum.
