Boulder Doctor Gets Prison Sentence For Bankruptcy Fraud

BOULDER, CO -- A Boulder doctor and surgeon was sentenced in Denver's District Court to 18 months in prison for bankruptcy fraud on Friday, March 15. Cathleen Van Buskirk, 55, appeared in court and was released on bond. She has until April 19 to report to prison, according to a press release from the United States District Court.

“Concealing assets in attempt to circumvent the bankruptcy process is criminal,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn in a statement. “In this case the defendant thought she could beat the system. It is clear from today’s sentencing by Judge Martinez that she lost.”

Van Buskirk pled guilty to a single count of bankruptcy fraud on Aug. 24, 2018. According to the plea agreement, she filed for personal bankruptcy in August 2014, but failed to disclose and tried to conceal her interest in more than $300,000 worth of assets.

According to information presented at the sentencing, she routed $170,000 through various shell companies that were registered in the names of others but which Van Buskirk actually controlled. She also gave a friend gold and silver coins, foreign currency, a diamond ring, and $48,000 in cash to hold for her.

Even after the bankruptcy trustee filed a motion to revoke Van Buskirk’s bankruptcy discharge, prosecutors say she continued lying to the trustee about the full extent of her assets for several months.

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