Alexandria Man Indicted for Concealing Assets and Making False Statements in Bankruptcy Case

ALEXANDRIA – On August 5, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Edward Joseph Sieja , 47, of Alexandria, with multiple counts of Concealing Assets in Bankruptcy Filings, Making False Statements Under Penalty of Perjury, and Perjury. Sieja faces up to 35 years in federal prison if convicted on all counts. “Bankruptcy laws are meant to provide honest, good-faith debtors a fresh start—not to be exploited by those who seek to hide assets and deceive the court,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “We will aggressively pursue individuals who attempt to abuse and manipulate our bankruptcy system for personal gain.” According to court documents, Sieja filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition on August 24, 2021, seeking a discharge of more than $3.5 million in debt. The indictment alleges that before and during the bankruptcy process, Sieja concealed the transfer and purchase of multiple properties in Alexandria using undisclosed commission income from construction contracts he performed for Louisiana companies. These properties were purchased in the name of another individual, but Sieja allegedly arranged the transactions, provided the funds, and did not disclose any of them to the bankruptcy court. The indictment further alleges that Sieja failed to disclose significant assets and income, including bank accounts at two financial institutions, over $1 million in gross income, various other business interests, and the donation of a vehicle valued at $28,000. Despite these omissions, Sieja allegedly declared under penalty of perjury that his filings were true and correct and then reaffirmed those statements under oath. The indictment charges that these actions demonstrate a deliberate effort to deceive the bankruptcy trustee, conceal assets from creditors, and unlawfully obtain a bankruptcy discharge. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Trustee Program (USTP), and IRS – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) investigated the case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Earl M. Campbell and Amy J. Miller with assistance from Legal Assistant Stephanie Stewart. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla. Related court documents and information may be found at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer. The case number for this matter is 1:26‑cr‑00313‑01. ### CONTACT: Public Affairs USALAW-News@usdoj.gov United States Attorney’s Office www.justice.gov/usao-wdla Western District of Louisiana Twitter @USAO_WDLA