One time New York Mets baseball star Lenny Dykstra will spend the next 30 months in a federal prison rather than his mansion California not because he declared bankruptcy, but because he failed to declare bankruptcy the right way.
Most people think of the Bankruptcy Code as being civil law, not criminal. However, although bankruptcy involves civil laws, a debtor’s failure to honestly describe his assets and liabilities can have criminal consequences. For Dykstra, lying about whether he absconded with $18 million in estate funds landed him in serious trouble. Ultimately, Dykstra faces a felony conviction and several years in prison because he defrauded creditors of hundreds of thousands of dollars each.
Dykstra isn’t just a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of committing bankruptcy fraud, asset concealment, and money laundering. His decisions also suggest a sad, common truth about many debtors. Dykstra was talented at making money, but poor at managing money, despite his claims as a self-taught financial guru. Many people who face insolvency are very good at their jobs. Their harder challenge is recognizing and pursuing a prudent, fiscally responsible lifestyle.
Do you want to know whether bankruptcy might be an effective tool for relieving you of your past debts and paving the way for your future financial success? Are you aware of the ways that trained and talented legal counsel can help you avoid criminal sanctions stemming from mistakes in your bankruptcy filing? The talented professionals at Nachawati Law Group know how to help you. With years of experience we’re ready to answer your questions and help you move forward with your Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
———
About Nachawati Law Group
Nachawati Law Group represents parties in mass tort litigation, businesses and governmental entities in contingent litigation, and individuals in complex personal injury litigation. For more information, visit contact or call 214-890-0711.
