Sabrena Karim Indicted For Preparing Bankruptcy Documents In Contempt Of Court Order

Baltimore, Maryland - A federal grand jury has indicted Sabrena Karim, age 63, of Baltimore, Maryland, on charges that she is in contempt of a court order permanently enjoining Karim from preparing or assisting anyone in preparing any document for filing in any bankruptcy court.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; U.S. Trustee Judy Robbins and the Baltimore Office of the United States Trustee Program, the Department of Justice component that supervises the administration of bankruptcy cases; and Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Vogt of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The four count indictment alleges that on March 21, 2011, at a hearing attended by Karim, a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Maryland issued a verbal Order permanently enjoining Karim from acting as a bankruptcy return preparer and from accepting any money for preparing or assisting in the preparation of any document to be filed in any bankruptcy court. The Judge followed up with a written Order, which repeated the findings and prohibitions. The written Order was mailed to Karim’s address on March 31, 2011.

Despite that Order, a subsequent Civil Contempt Order, and two visits from a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation advising Karim that she was prohibited by the Bankruptcy Court’s Order from acting as a bankruptcy return preparer or otherwise assisting or advising anyone in connection with their bankruptcy matters, the indictment alleges that Karim continued to prepare bankruptcy petitions and other documents for filing in the Bankruptcy Court.

No court appearance is currently scheduled for Karim, who is released under the supervision of U.S. Pretrial Services.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the U.S. Trustee’s Office and the FBI for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Kathleen O. Gavin, who is prosecuting the case.