Wisconsin Man Sentenced for Concealing ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ Replica in Bankruptcy Case

In Wisconsin, a man was sentenced for hiding a 'Dukes of Hazzard' General Lee replica and a Trans Am during bankruptcy.

Shawn Henry December 13, 2025 2 minutes read

Bruce Polczynski, a 57-year-old resident of Minocqua, Wisconsin, faced federal sentencing for attempting to conceal a replica of the iconic 1969 Dodge Charger, known as the General Lee from the ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ TV series, during his bankruptcy proceedings. The U.S. Attorney’s Office revealed that Polczynski was also accused of hiding a 1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, reminiscent of the vehicle featured in ‘Smokey and the Bandit 2’, although the car’s movie connection wasn’t officially established.

Judge James Peterson handed Polczynski a sentence of three years probation and imposed a $1,000 fine. The judge underscored the gravity of the offense, pointing out that prison could be considered in similar future cases as a deterrent. He emphasized that Polczynski’s sentencing was tempered by his health and financial circumstances, but the message was clear: hiding assets in bankruptcy is a serious offense.

U.S. Attorney Timothy O’Shea noted the conspicuous nature of the vehicles made them easy to spot by investigators. The bright orange General Lee, complete with the iconic ’01’ marking and the near-movie-famous Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, were quickly discovered and subsequently sold off. O’Shea’s statement highlighted the efficiency and determination with which the justice system can uncover attempts to conceal assets.

Shawn Henry

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Shawn Henry has spent years writing about cars, and it shows—not in a resume kind of way, but in how he talks about them. He's the type who'll notice the weird trim option nobody remembers and actually know why it mattered. At Backfire News, he covers pretty much the whole spectrum: off-road trucks and trail builds, performance cars, racing, and the collector market. He's comfortable getting into the technical weeds, but he never forgets that most people read about cars because cars are fun, not because they want a spec sheet. His beat runs from classic and collector vehicles to overlanding culture, modified performance builds, new automotive tech, and the industry news that actually affects what ends up in your driveway. Mostly, though, Shawn thinks the best car stories are about people—the builds they pour money into, the road trips, the communities that form around a shared obsession. That's the stuff he likes writing about, and it's what you'll find in his work here.

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