BENTON — A federal grand jury for the Southern District of Illinois has returned an indictment charging an Ullin woman with two counts of bankruptcy fraud.

According to court records, 44-year-old Jessica A. Browning was indicted as part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s continuing effort to crackdown on those who commit fraud in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Illinois.

Browning filed a chapter 13 bankruptcy case in the federal bankruptcy court in Benton on March 17, 2014.  The indictment charges that, on a document she filed with the bankruptcy court, Browning intentionally concealed the fact that just three weeks before filing bankruptcy she had received a $12,675.47 worker’s compensation award.  The indictment further alleges that, at a meeting of creditors in her bankruptcy case, Browning provided false testimony regarding what she did with the funds from her worker’s compensation award.

Browning is charged with making a false statement under penalty of perjury in a bankruptcy case and making a false statement under oath in a bankruptcy case. Both crimes carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

The arraignment for Browning will be conducted on Sept. 5 at 1:30 p.m. at the Federal Courthouse in Benton.