North Myrtle Beach Hot Dog Vendor Guilty of Bankruptcy Fraud

COLUMBIA, SC—United States Attorney William N. Nettles stated that Anthony Randall Simmons, age 44, of North Myrtle Beach, pled guilty in federal court in Florence to bankruptcy fraud, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 152(1). United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell accepted the plea and will sentence Simmons after he has reviewed a pre-sentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

Evidence established that Simmons filed for bankruptcy in April 2007, and was required under federal law to list all of his assets and the value for each. Simmons listed as an asset a hot dog stand he operated in North Myrtle Beach, valuing it at $1,500.00. However, while his bankruptcy was still pending, he sold the business for $95,000.00.

Mr. Nettles stated the maximum penalty Simmons can receive is a fine of $250,000.00 and imprisonment for five years.

The case was investigated by the Office of the United States Trustee and agents of the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II, of the United States Attorney’s Florence office, handled the case.