Federal authorities say hundreds of people appear to be using phony bankruptcy filings in Chicago to avoid paying full fines on their impounded cars.
The allegations arose in a complaint against a Chicago man, Daniel Rankins, arrested on Thursday for allegedly accepting $600 to assist filing a false bankruptcy case. He's charged with bankruptcy fraud.
Officials with the U.S. Attorney's Office said authorities suspect at least 1,000 people have made similarly fraudulent bankruptcy filings.
The bankruptcy filings weren't followed through on but apparently let many people get their cars from impounds without paying large fines.
It wasn't immediately clear if Rankins' had an attorney. He's due to make an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Chicago later Thursday.
