Wayzata Woman Charged with Making a False Statement in Hecker Bankruptcy Case

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota
April 9, 2010

MINNEAPOLIS—B. Todd Jones, United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota, announced this morning that Christi Michele Rowan, age 36, of Wayzata, has been charged in federal court with making a false oath in the Dennis Hecker bankruptcy case. Rowan is also charged with defrauding a credit union while seeking an automobile loan. By way of an information, Rowan was specifically charged with one count of bankruptcy fraud and one count of bank fraud.

The information, which was filed early this morning, alleges that on October 13, 2009, Rowan made a false statement, under oath, in the Hecker bankruptcy case. The information also alleges that on April 9, 2009, Rowan executed a scheme to defraud Endura Federal Credit Union while applying for a loan to finance the purchase of a 2008 Land Rover.

If convicted, Rowan faces a potential maximum penalty of five years on the bankruptcy fraud charge and 20 years in prison on the bank fraud count. All sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Minnesota State Patrol, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole A. Engisch, Nancy E. Brasel, and David M. Genrich.

A defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until he or she pleads guilty or is proven guilty at trial.