HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Wayne Robert Rummel, the unscrupulous 40-year-old from Crown City, Ohio, has found himself in hot water after pleading guilty to a brazen bankruptcy fraud scheme. According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 5, 2023, Rummel filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy in United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Despite his pending bankruptcy case, Rummel sought financing for a $24,758.50 Nissan Altima, knowing full well that such a transaction required permission from either the Bankruptcy Court or the United States Trustee. But on February 26, 2025, he took matters into his own hands by sending the lender a fraudulent order from the Bankruptcy Court.
As part of his guilty plea, Rommel admitted to creating the fake court order and knowing it was unauthorized. The truth is, neither the Court nor the United States Trustee had granted him permission to secure a loan while his bankruptcy case was still active.
Scheduled for sentencing on January 5, 2026, Rummel faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine that could reach $250,000. The United States Attorney’s Office praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the criminal referral by the United States Trustee’s Charleston field office.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing, with Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release can be found on the U.S. Attorney’s Office website, and related court documents are available on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-138.
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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