Corvallis Man Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison For Bankruptcy Fraud

Scheme to Discharge $384,000 Gambling Debt Obtained by Posing as Family Members

EUGENE, OR—Viengkham Virasak, 44, of Corvallis, Oregon, was sentenced on November 22, 2011, to serve two years in prison and three years of supervised release for fraudulently obtaining more than $384,000 of debt in his family members’ names and attempting to fraudulently discharge that debt through bankruptcy. He was also ordered to pay $384,036 in restitution.

According to court documents, defendant falsely obtained more than $380,000 by using the names of his father, mother, brother, and sister to feed his gambling addiction. In fact, he opened more than 50 credit cards in their names without their knowledge. Once the debt started to mount, defendant filed fraudulent bankruptcy petitions in his family members’ names and impersonated them at various bankruptcy proceedings. When his family discovered the fraud and confronted him, defendant attempted to solicit his family member’s participation to help him conceal the fraud.

U.S. Attorney Amanda Marshall remarked, “This defendant victimized not only his own family but also the bankruptcy court and the individuals who truly need and are entitled to protection under our bankruptcy laws. When you lie, steal, and cheat, you put the entire system in jeopardy, and you will be held accountable.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford.