Sabrena Karim, Bankruptcy Contempt, Maryland 2011

Baltimore Woman Indicted for Bankruptcy Contempt

A federal grand jury has indicted Sabrena Karim, age 63, of Baltimore, Maryland, on charges that she is in contempt of a court order permanently enjoining Karim from preparing or assisting anyone in preparing any document for filing in any bankruptcy court.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.

The four-count indictment alleges that on March 21, 2011, at a hearing attended by Karim, a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Maryland issued a verbal Order permanently enjoining Karim from acting as a bankruptcy return preparer and from accepting any money for preparing or assisting in the preparation of any document to be filed in any bankruptcy court.

Despite that Order, a subsequent Civil Contempt Order, and two visits from a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation advising Karim that she was prohibited by the Bankruptcy Court’s Order from acting as a bankruptcy return preparer or otherwise assisting or advising anyone in connection with their bankruptcy matters, the indictment alleges that Karim continued to prepare bankruptcy petitions and other documents for filing in the Bankruptcy Court.

According to the indictment, Karim’s actions were a direct violation of the court order, which was issued to prevent her from engaging in bankruptcy preparer activities.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. Karim is currently released under the supervision of U.S. Pretrial Services.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the U.S. Trustee’s Office and the FBI for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Kathleen O. Gavin, who is prosecuting the case.

Related Federal Cases