Florida Woman Convicted of Bankruptcy Fraud Following Federal Bench Trial

WILMINGTON, Del. - On October 1, 2026, a federal judge convicted Deborah Evans Mott, 71, of Ormond Beach, Florida, of making false statements under penalty of perjury in a bankruptcy proceeding, announced U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace.

U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika returned the verdict following a four-day bench trial held June 22 through June 25, 2026, after Mott waived her right to a jury trial.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Mott was the controlling and majority member of Team Systems International, LLC ("TSI"). In January 2022, after a federal jury in Florida returned a judgment of more than $6 million against the company, TSI filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (No. 22-10066-CTG). Mott knew about, and intentionally failed to disclose, several closed TSI bank accounts and more than $3 million in transfers to herself and other company insiders, including Mott's family members. She then gave TSI's bankruptcy lawyers financial information for TSI's Statement of Financial Affairs that omitted those accounts and transfers, reviewed the paperwork TSI's lawyers prepared that omitted that information, and signed the paperwork for TSI under penalty of perjury.

The court found Mott guilty on one count of making false statements under penalty of perjury in a bankruptcy proceeding and acquitted her on a second count of making false statements under oath during a deposition in the bankruptcy. Mott faces a maximum prison term of five years and a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for February 4, 2027. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

"Deborah Mott decided to pay herself and her favored circle rather than her company's creditors. She then tried to cover her tracks by lying to TSI's lawyers, TSI's creditors, the Chapter 7 Trustee, and the Bankruptcy Court. That abuse of our judicial system has now earned Mott a federal felony conviction. We thank the District Court for the care and thought it exhibited in serving as the trier of fact in this bench trial, and we look forward to advocating for a just sentence for Mott in the coming months."

"Honesty is not optional in the federal bankruptcy system," said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul. "Providing false information under penalty of perjury undermines the integrity of the process. This conviction demonstrates the FBI's commitment to holding accountable those who abuse the bankruptcy system for personal gain."

The investigation was conducted by the FBI's Wilmington Resident Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah J. McCollum prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District CourtLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. for the District of Delaware or on PACERLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-00077-MN.