Bankruptcy was designed to be a remedy, to help people who would like assistance and guidance to be in a better financial situation. The bankruptcy system was created to provide honest debtors a fresh start. Therefore, Congress enacted bankruptcy fraud and related statutes to deter and punish those who commit bankruptcy fraud. One of the more commonly charged bankruptcy fraud provisions is 18 U.S.C. §152(1), which makes it a crime for a debtor to “knowingly and fraudulently” conceal estate assets from the court, the trustee, or creditors.
