The United States Attorney's Office
Northern District of Iowa

DUBUQUE BUSINESSMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO BANKRUPTCY FRAUD

Contact:CJ Williams

United States Attorney Matt M. Dummermuth announced today that ROGER WALDNER, 43, from Dubuque, Iowa, pled guilty yesterday in federal court in Cedar Rapids to two counts of bankruptcy fraud. The plea took place on the first day of trial on charges contained in an indictment unsealed on May 11, 2006, in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids.

In a plea agreement, WALDNER admitted he made two false statements in connection with the bankruptcy of H & W Motor Express during a meeting of creditors on July 18, 2002. WALDNER admitted he lied when he said, “I have no ownership or affiliation with Nationwide.” In truth and in fact, WALDNER was president and CEO of One Stop, Inc., a South Dakota corporation that did business as and owned the assets of Nationwide. WALDNER admitted he lied again when he stated under oath that he was not aware of any common officers between Solace, Nationwide, and H & W when, in fact, WALDNER was the CEO of H & W and president and CEO of One Stop, Inc., a South Dakota corporation that owned the assets of and did business as Nationwide and Solace. WALDNER admitted he intended to defraud creditors by making the false statements.

Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade will be set after a presentence report is prepared. WALDNER remains free on bond previously set pending sentencing. WALDNER faces up to 5 years imprisonment without the possibility of parole; a fine of up to $250,000; a mandatory special assessment of $100; and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years following any imprisonment on each count.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney C.J. Williams and was investigated by the United States Trustee’s Office, the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.