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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA federal grand jury this week indicted Todd Wolfe, the founder of the once-thriving Fishers collection agency Deca Financial, on felony bank fraud, wire fraud and bankruptcy card charges.
The indictment likely means prosecutors were unable to reach a plea agreement with Wolfe, 53, who was preliminarily charged in late 2014. Prosecutors repeatedly sought extensions in the months since, saying they were “actively engaged in discussing numerous issues” with his public defender, William Dazey.
Deca, which collected on delinquent loans for health care, student loans and financial services, was founded in 2009 and at one time employed more than 75 people.
The indictment alleges Wolfe filed false financial reports with BMO Harris Bank that inflated the value of the company, and he used the proceeds from the business loan he obtained on his home, a sports car, personal credit cards and a lake house.
He also is accused of selling $1 million of worthless Deca stock to an unsuspecting investor. The bankruptcy fraud charge stems from a claim made in bankruptcy court that Wolfe had a living trust worth more than $14 million. Investigators allege the actual value of the trust was $52,000.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the FBI and U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee.
Bankruptcy Judge Robyn Moberly in April 2014 approved a request by Deca’s bankruptcy trustee to terminate and wind down operations of the company.
On Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Walton Pratt entered an automatic not-guilty plea on behalf of Wolfe and scheduled a jury trial for Nov. 16.
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