Naperville man, brother sentenced for bankruptcy fraud

A Naperville man was sentenced to 30 months in prison this week after being convicted of bankruptcy fraud.

Following a six-day trial, the jury returned one guilty verdict each for Joseph R. Persfull, 47, of Naperville, and his brother, James E. Persfull, of Poplar Grove.

An indictment from the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois said the brothers schemed to defraud a bankruptcy trustee after Joseph filed for bankruptcy in 2003. The indictment said the men used sham documents to hide from the bankruptcy trustee that their mother died, had a will, and James was entitled to a property interest in her estate.

Officials said James Persfull pretended to forego the interest in their mother's estate, while actually receiving his entire inheritance.

Joseph Persfull also will serve two years of supervised release and will pay a $6,000 fine, authorities said.