Former Businessman Sonny Pilcher Lists Another $730,000 In Debts
Former Casper businessman and convicted felon Sonny Pilcher recently identified another $730,000 he owes 10 creditors, according to U.S. Bankruptcy Court records.
Those debts and creditors are on top of the $5,180,000 he listed in his earlier Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection filings, which brings the total to $5,910,000.
Whether any creditors get anything is another story, an attorney for one of the creditors said Monday.
"Right now, the schedules (documents) as prepared by Mr. Pilcher are asserting there is no money available for general unsecured creditors, which are the majority of the folks that are listed on his schedule," Stephen Winship said.
Pilcher did not have a listed phone number and could not be reached for comment.
Pilcher, 59, was released from federal prison on Jan. 6 after serving a one-year sentence for tax fraud, according to court records and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
In June 2014, Pilcher pleaded guilty to one count of felony obstruction of the administration of Internal Revenue Service laws. In December 2014, U.S. District Court Judge Alan Johnson sentenced him to one year imprisonment, one year of probation and a $10,000 fine. He served his time at Federal Prison Camp-Englewood, Littleton, Colo., which also houses former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
In July 2015, he filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which stops creditors from trying to collect debts. It provides for the liquidation of a debtor's property -- some property is exempt, however -- and its sale to a bankruptcy trustee who distributes the proceeds to creditors.
Pilcher had been the owner of local businesses including a construction company, the defunct The Stampede (formerly Elevation) nightclub in Casper, and Racks Gentlemen's Club in Mills. Racks is now owned by two relatives.
In his initial filing in July, he listed $5,230,000 in unsecured nonpriority claims, and that was reduced to $5,180,000 in a subsequent Sept. 8 filing. The latter filing also listed a house in the name of SP Investments LLC in the 4400 block of East 21st Street, which he valued at $675,000.
The Jan. 14 filing added $730,000 in claims. The largest one of those was $300,000 to Monte Elliott & Omega Construction.
The other creditors, cited verbatim, are:
- Kara Crawford-Fink -- $10,000.
- Brian Spaulding and BCS Construction -- $200,000.
- Nathan Hochmand & Morgan,Lewis & Bockius,LLP -- $100,000.
- K-2 Radio -- $10,000.
- Casper Star Tribune -- $10,000.
- Zak Szekely -- $20,000.
- Leonard Meisinger & Bear Claw Electric -- $50,000.
- Kuker Agency -- $25,000.
- Overhead Door -- $5,000.
Pilcher said he has had no income while incarcerated, and expects to be working minimum wage jobs when he is released.
He also listed three civil lawsuits against him. Two are filed by Elliott in Natrona County District Court. The other is filed by Probuild Co. LLC, in Olympia, Wash.
Winship, who represents Monte Elliott & Omega Construction, said he anticipates some creditors will file "non-dischargeability" documents against him to either prevent his bankruptcy discharge, or to seek certain debts to be included within the discharge."
A "non-dischargeability" filing could allege Pilcher committed fraud, willful and malicious injuries to creditors, breach of fiduciary duty, and other behaviors that would not allow him to have those debts forgiven, he said.
The next step in the bankruptcy case will be a meeting probably in February with Pilcher, creditors and their attorneys, and the bankruptcy trustee.