Missouri Couple Charged With Bankruptcy Fraud and Evading Bank Reporting Requirements

A Camden County, Missouri couple are facing bankruptcy fraud and structuring charges arising out of
a scheme to defraud the federal bankruptcy court for the Southern District of Illinois. Kevin  and 
Catharine  Kahrig  are  named  in  a  four-count  indictment  that  accuses  the  pair  of
bankruptcy fraud and structuring. The indictment also charges Kevin Kahrig, age 47, with making a
long list of false statements and omissions to the bankruptcy court.
According to the indictment, from 2016-2018, the Kahrigs launched a scheme to conceal Kevin’s
assets from his creditors and fraudulently transfer at least $550,000 in assets to his wife,
Catharine, age 34. Kevin and Catharine allegedly deposited over $160,000 in cash and checks
belonging to Kevin into Catharine’s bank account. Catharine allegedly used the commingled funds in
her account to purchase property and selectively pay Kevin’s expenses, while Kevin emptied and
closed his own bank accounts, cashing over $200,000 in checks rather than depositing them with the
bank. The Kahrigs also allegedly structured over $100,000 in deposits in an attempt to evade bank
reporting requirements.

The indictment further alleges that Kevin instructed his business customers to make out payments to
Catharine and other family members rather than to himself or his business. The couple is  also 
accused  of  selling  Kevin’s  boat  and  using  the  $395,000  check  to  pay  off  Catharine’s
mortgage rather than pay Kevin’s debts.

Kevin Kahrig filed for bankruptcy in May 2018. The indictment charges him with making numerous 
false  statements  and  omissions  in  his  bankruptcy  filings  and  subsequent  statements under
oath to conceal the scheme to defraud.

“Abuse  of  the  bankruptcy  system  by  concealing  assets  for  personal  gain  threatens  the
integrity of the bankruptcy system,” stated Nancy J. Gargula, United States Trustee for Southern
Illinois, Central Illinois and Indiana (Region 10). “I am gratified by the actions taken by United
States Attorney Wei  hoeft and our law enforcement partners to prosecute those who engage in
fraudulent conduct.”

Each charge carries a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment and a fine of up to
$250,000. The Kahrigs’ initial appearances and arraignments were held earlier today, and both
defendants entered a plea of not guilty. Trial is set for May 19, 2021, before United States
District Judge Stephen P. McGlynn.

An  indictment  is  merely  a  formal  charge  against  a  defendant.  Under  the  law,  the
defendants are presumed to be innocent of the charges until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt
to the satisfaction of a jury.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, in collaboration with the Southern District of Illinois
Bankruptcy Fraud Working Group coordinated by the U.S. Trustee for Region 10, after referral by the
U.S. Trustee. The U.S. Trustee Program is the component of the Justice Department that protects the
integrity of the bankruptcy system by overseeing case administration and litigating to enforce the
bankruptcy laws. Region 10 is headquartered in Indianapolis, with additional offices in Peoria,
Illinois, and South Bend, Indiana. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United
States Attorney Peter T. Reed.