Richard Villanueva Mitchell, a 54-year-old resident of Midvale, Utah, has been sentenced to two years' probation for bankruptcy-related offenses. U.S. District Court Judge Jill N. Parrish delivered the sentence after a federal jury found Mitchell guilty of bankruptcy fraud, false bankruptcy declaration, and bribery in August 2024.
The U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of Utah had recommended a more severe sentence of 48 months' imprisonment followed by supervised release. The charges stemmed from Mitchell's actions following his May 2017 bankruptcy filing where he sought to discharge over $600,000 in debts while disclosing minimal assets.
Evidence presented at trial revealed that by October 2017, Mitchell was discovered to own several storage trailers filled with new household appliances valued at approximately $500,000. These included dishwashers, refrigerators, washers, dryers, and ranges which he intended to conceal from the bankruptcy court and sell for personal gain. At the time, Mitchell was self-employed in supplying and repairing appliances for building contractors.
“Mr. Mitchell attempted to selfishly deprive the bankruptcy system established for honest debtors seeking relief in a financial crisis,” stated Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah. “Fortunately, our hardworking law enforcement partners and prosecutors were able to gather strong evidence of Mitchell’s guilt and achieve a guilty verdict in this case.”
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office with prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorney Brent L. Andrus and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Kuhn.