When you think of a door-to-door vacuum salesman, you probably picture someone simply trying to make an honest living. But Jason Gillis wasn’t your typical salesman.
Behind his friendly pitches for air filters and home products was a troubling history of manipulation, deception, and financial fraud — all of which recently caught up with him in a federal bankruptcy court in Oregon.
Bankruptcy Court Slams the Door on Gillis’s Discharge
On April 18, the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon ruled against Gillis, officially denying him a bankruptcy discharge.
The U.S. Trustee Program (USTP), which oversees the integrity of the bankruptcy process, secured a default judgment after Gillis failed to respond to allegations of serious misconduct.
That judgment means Gillis remains fully responsible for his debts, including a staggering $1.7 million in unsecured liabilities.
Preying on Trust: Women and the Elderly Targeted
Gillis’s deceptive practices stretched far beyond hiding a few assets.
He specifically targeted women — often ones he was romantically involved with — and their elderly parents.
In one heart-wrenching case, he took advantage of a 79-year-old woman recovering from a stroke, persuading her to take out a mortgage on her home and transfer over $100,000 to a business account he secretly controlled.
Instead of using the funds as promised, Gillis redirected them to cover his personal expenses.
He didn’t stop there. Gillis used the identities of both the woman and her daughter without their knowledge, racking up debts in their names.
His schemes blurred the line between manipulation and outright abuse.
Living Large While Others Paid the Price
Gillis also managed to lease a $150,000 recreational vehicle from another elderly woman — again, the mother of a woman he briefly dated.
After getting his hands on the RV and moving into it, he simply stopped making payments.
To make matters worse, he refused to disclose where the vehicle was located, leaving yet another victim in financial and emotional distress.
A Strategic Bankruptcy Amid Mounting Lawsuits
By August 2024, lawsuits and judgments were closing in on Gillis, including accusations of fraud, theft, and broken contracts.
That’s when he filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy — a move that seemed more strategic than sincere.
According to investigators, Gillis tried to sidestep accountability by concealing his business interests and lying under oath in his bankruptcy paperwork.
He transferred business ownerships into victims’ names to hide his involvement, forged signatures on official documents, and kept secret financial accounts and settlements — including one related to his late mother’s wrongful death case.
The USTP Steps In and Calls Out the Fraud
The U.S. Trustee Program, particularly its Portland office, uncovered Gillis’s web of deceit and filed a complaint to block his bankruptcy discharge.
Since Gillis didn’t even attempt to contest the case, the court handed down a default judgment in favor of the USTP.
As a result, Gillis won’t get the fresh financial start he hoped for.
His creditors can continue pursuing him for unpaid debts, and the court made it clear that the bankruptcy system cannot be used as a shelter for fraud.
No Safe Haven for Financial Predators
“Bankruptcy is not a safe haven for fraudsters,” said Acting U.S. Trustee Jonas V. Anderson of Region 18, which oversees Oregon.
Anderson emphasized the USTP’s mission to protect victims and uphold the integrity of the bankruptcy system.
What the Bankruptcy Code Says About Fraud
Under federal law, debtors are denied a discharge if they’re caught trying to hide assets, deceive the court, or delay creditors through dishonest means.
The system is designed to give honest debtors a second chance — not to reward those who lie and manipulate others for personal gain.
The Bigger Mission Behind the USTP
This case is just one example of how the USTP works to enforce accountability.
With 89 field offices across 21 regions, including an executive office in Washington, D.C., the USTP is deeply committed to making sure the bankruptcy process works fairly — not just for debtors, but also for the creditors and everyday people who might otherwise be taken advantage of.