Laura Wright, Concealing Property in Bankruptcy, Virginia 2014

A Roanoke woman has pleaded guilty to concealing property in relation to a bankruptcy proceeding.

Laura Wright, 52, entered her guilty plea on Tuesday in U.S. District Court.

Wright and her husband, Stacey Wright, filed a voluntary bankruptcy petition on September 2, 2014, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Virginia in the Roanoke Division. At the time of the filing, Laura Wright was an attorney with prior bankruptcy experience and a member of the Virginia State Bar.

Prior to filing bankruptcy, and continuing throughout the bankruptcy proceedings, the Wrights incurred substantial expenses associated with the sport of pony jumping, an activity their then-minor child was participating in, and they bought, sold, and maintained ownership interests in several show ponies.

According to court documents, Wright failed to disclose to the bankruptcy court any ownership interest in or costs associated with show ponies. She also falsely testified under oath concerning her ownership interest in various show ponies, as well as the source of funds used to purchase a show pony for $18,000 in August 2014.

At sentencing, Wright faces a possible sentence of up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdva/pr/roanoke-woman-pleads-guilty-failing-disclose-ownership-show-ponies-part-bankruptcy