Former Minnesota Attorney Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud

Barry V. Voss of St. Paul, Minnesota, pleaded guilty today to failure to pay over employment taxes , announced Assistant Attorney General Kathryn Keneally of the Justice Department's Tax Division Justice, U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger for the District of Minnesota and Special Agent in Charge Kelly R. Jackson of the St. Paul Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)- Criminal Investigation.  Voss pleaded guilty to one count of failure to pay over employment taxes for the fourth quarter of 2008.

According to the plea agreement, Voss filed quarterly employment tax returns with the IRS from July 2007 through December 2010 which reflected taxes withheld from the salaries of the employees of his law firm, Barry V. Voss P.A., including Voss’ own salary.  However, Voss failed to timely pay over to the IRS the full amount of the taxes due and owing.  Voss admitted that he intentionally failed to pay these taxes to the IRS, which totaled approximately $160,000. 

Voss faces a statutory maximum prison term of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000 and payment of back taxes owed to the IRS.  A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.

This case was investigated by special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation.  It is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Lori A. Hendrickson and Adam R. Smart of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Schommer of the District of Minnesota.