Former Canyon County Prosecutor Indicted In Federal Court

United States Charges John Bujak with Bankruptcy Fraud, Money Laundering and Obstruction of Justice

BOISE – John T. Bujak, 44, of Eagle, Idaho, was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Boise on charges of bankruptcy fraud, concealment of assets, making a false statement under oath, money laundering, and obstruction of justice, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. An initial court date has not been set.

The indictment alleges that from November 1, 2010, to September 21, 2011, Bujak concealed from a bankruptcy trustee and creditors his and his then wife’s ownership in a women’s Rolex watch, by knowingly failing to disclose it, under oath, on the statement of assets filed as part of his bankruptcy petition.

The indictment alleges that Bujak sold the women’s Rolex watch and a diamond ring to a jewelry store in Florida and received a check for $26,000, $25,000 of which was payment for the Rolex watch. According to the indictment, Bujak concealed the sale and his receipt of the $26,000 from the United States trustee, the bankruptcy trustee, and his creditors, by intentionally cashing it at a MoneyTree store in Caldwell, Idaho, rather than depositing it into his personal bank accounts or cashing it at his bank.

When the sale of the women’s Rolex watch came to the attention of the bankruptcy trustee, the government alleges that Bujak made false statements to the trustee by stating that he and his then wife originally purchased the watch as a gift for his mother-in-law, that they did not possess it when they filed for bankruptcy, and that his mother-in-law returned the watch after 2 they filed for bankruptcy. The indictment also alleges that Bujak attempted to persuade his then wife to make false statements to the bankruptcy trustee regarding the watch.

The charges of bankruptcy fraud, concealment of assets and making a false statement under oath are each punishable by up to five years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. The charge of money laundering is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of not more than $500,000, or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater, and up to five years of supervised release. Obstruction of justice is punishable by up to ten years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. The government is seeking forfeiture of proceeds of the unlawful activity and property involved in money laundering.

The case is being investigated by Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.

An indictment is a means of charging a person with criminal activity. It is not evidence. The person is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.