Bankruptcy Court Trustee hires CPA to track White’s funds

By Rosemary K. Otzman
Independent Editor
On Oct. 4, Bankruptcy Court Judge Thomas J. Tucker signed an order approving the ex-parte request of Chapter 7 Trustee Wendy Turner Lewis to employ an accountant to help her process the filing by Thomas A. White.
White, of Belleville, filed Chapter 7 Bankruptcy on July 19, a few days after being disbarred as an attorney. He had served as an attorney in Belleville for 20 years at 35 Main Street, across from City Hall.
Lewis’ attorney Tracy M. Clark from Steinberg Shapiro & Clark filed the application for the services of an accountant to, among other things, consult with the trustee and her counsel on financial matters, “analyze the Debtor’s books and records, trace funds, value the Debtor’s membership and interest in an LLC, and prepare tax returns.”
Judge Tucker gave Lewis the approval to hire Chapski & Chapski, CPAs, LLP to serve as accountant for the trustee in this case. The hourly fees for Chapski & Chapski, of Canton, range between $50 to $150.
In his Declaration of Disinterestedness, Steven R. Chapski states, “I have been advised that the Debtor has numerous creditors and, accordingly, the firm may have rendered services or had business associations with such creditors or their counsel in the ordinary course of the firm’s business, but none of these services have been in connection with, nor impact, this proceeding.”
Assets recovered
Trustee Lewis filed a notice on Sept. 30 that assets have been recovered by the trustee and those wishing to file as claimants need to file by Dec. 26.
Besides bankruptcy proceedings, White faces five criminal charges for allegedly defrauding the late Leland Jordan and his wife Judith A. Jordan of Belleville. According to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, more criminal charges against White are coming.
White is scheduled for a 9 a.m. preliminary exam on Oct. 16 at 34th District Court on the five original charges, and maybe more.
New creditors added
On Tuesday, Oct. 8, White’s bankruptcy attorney added seven new creditors to his list, now totaling 23. The total new claims add up to $360,750.
Additions were listed as “business debts”: Alyssa Renier ($100,000), Karen Forester ($43,000), Dan Fischer ($35,000), Paypal ($3,750), Dwayne Branhum ($19,000), Thomas Sienko ($100,000), and Judy Jordan ($60,000).