IL Woman Indicted for Bankruptcy Fraud

A southern Illinois woman has been indicted on fraud charges.

On Thursday, the U.S. Attorney's office for the southern district of Illinois announced two charges of bankruptcy fraud have been filed against 44-year-old Jessica A. Browning of Ullin. 

A press release says Browning filed chapter 13 bankruptcy in 2014, but allegedly concealed that she had received a worker's compensation award of $12,675 about three weeks before filing. The indictment alleges that she provided false testimony about what she did with the money at a meeting with creditors.

Browning is charged with making a false statement under penalty of perjury in a bankruptcy case and making a false statement under oath in a bankruptcy case. Both crimes carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Browning's arraignment will be on September 5 at the Federal Courthouse in Benton.