This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

A federal jury in Philadelphia has convicted a Torrey man of conspiracy and fraud in a scheme to help a doctor avoid paying off student loans and income taxes.

Robert G. Wray, 75, who claimed to be a "sovereign citizen" exempt from U.S. laws, was found guilty on Wednesday of one charge of conspiracy, 30 counts of wire fraud, one count of bankruptcy fraud and one of failure to appear. He faces a possible prison term of up to six and half years when he is sentenced on Sept. 2.

Wray conspired with Dr. Dennis Erik Fluck Von Kiel of Macungie, Pa.., a doctor of osteopathy who went by various names. Von Kiel pleaded guilty in April and was sentenced to three years and five months in prison. He also was ordered to pay restitution of about $550,000 to federal agencies and to forfeit another $166,000.

Wray also used various names such as Robert-George of the Wray Clan and Robert-George: Wray of the Christ Clan so he could claim he had not been properly identified in legal documents, according to the indictment filed last fall in Philadelphia.

He advised Von Kiel to avoid taxes by becoming a member of a Utah-based religious organization called the International Academy of Lymphology as a minister and sign a vow of poverty while assigning his income and assets to the organization, according to the indictment.

Wray also claimed to be a lawyer representing Von Kiel as an "attorney-at-lawe" for a "Constitutional Lawe Association," the indictment says.

Von Kiel also directed his employer to deposit his wages into a bank account in Orem and from there they were transferred to a Bank of America account assigned to True Life Ministries Inc., of which Von Kiel was the sole signatory and trustee.

Their activities brought on an investigation by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigations.