Can I spare a dime? Hell no. Give me yours.

By Rachelle Bowden in News on Sep 13, 2005 4:46PM

Okay, how low are you if you’re extorting hundred of dollars from someone who is declaring bankruptcy? “Oh, you’re drowning? Could you hold this brick for me?”

Yesterday one of the federal bankruptcy court clerks was charged with attempted extortion when she pocketed $500 from an undercover witness. The clerk told the would-be down-on-their-luck debtor that the money would stop the foreclosure on their house.

Not only is that a thing that puts you on the express train to hell faster than too-soon Katrina jokes, but it’s also total bullshit. As soon as you file for bankruptcy in this country, all other civil legal proceedings are stopped against you anyway. It’s automatic. It’s kind of like hitting the pause button on the DVD of “Shit Hitting Fan.”

So the clerk has been fired, charged, and is now out on $4,500 bond. Her attorney chose not to comment.

This clerk came to the feds’ attention in 2002 when an actual bankruptcy debtor asked for help to stop a foreclosure and ended up forking over $5,000 (!) to Clerky O’stealfromthepoor. The debtor went to the FBI when she found out the money didn’t so much go to stop the foreclosure as it went to whatever it is crooked clerks spend their money on. Like cigars or ImClone stock.

Thanks, Roland!