William Liddle has claimed that he was stabbed by an unseenassailant on the day he was scheduled to be sentenced in court.

The judge ordered documentation confirming the stabbing, andgave Liddle a new sentencing date of June 1. The stabbing incidentreportedly occurred on May 21.

Liddle is a former vice president of lending at AEA FederalCredit Union. He was found guilty to several counts including fraudfor his role in a million-dollar loan kickback scheme that led tothe conservatorship and near collapse of the $245 million creditunion in Yuma, Ariz.

The Phoenix Police Department had questions about the timing ofthe stabbing, according to several local media reports.

Liddle said he was working on a fence behind his home May 21when someone reached behind and stabbed him in the chest. He toldpolice that the weapon was a butterfly type knife, but he did notsee the attacker.

Liddle was released from the hospital May 22 after beingtreated for a non-life threatening injury.

Both police and U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton questioned the timing of theincident given that Liddle was scheduled to be sentenced May 21.Bolton informed Liddle’s attorney, David Eisenberg, that she wouldissue a warrant for Liddle’s arrest if she did not receivedocumentation of the incident.

While the new sentencing date is June 1, a restitution hearingis set for June 19.

Liddle’s wife, Rhonda, was sentenced May 21 to 12 months’ homeincarceration and five years of supervised release for her role inthe loan scheme.