Natchitoches Man Sentenced For Bankruptcy Fraud

ALEXANDRIA, La. –United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Wesley A. Pace, 38, of Nachitoches, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell, to 15 months in prison and three years of supervised release for bankruptcy fraud.  He was also ordered to complete 300 hours of community service within the supervised release time period.
           
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea on November 14, 2013, Pace filed for bankruptcy in March of 2008.  In his court filings, Pace did not declare his ownership of mineral rights to a parcel of land in Natchitoches Parish.  One month later, he sold the mineral rights for $95,000 without informing the bankruptcy trustee of the sale or providing the money to the bankruptcy trustee as required by the Bankruptcy Act.

The FBI, assisted by the U.S. Trustee’s Office, Region 5, conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert W. Gillespie Jr. prosecuted the case.