Dr. Robert B. Sperrazza Convicted Of Tax Evasion And Currency Structuring

Today, June 7, 2013, Michael J. Moore, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announced the conviction after a jury trial of Dr. Robert B. Sperrazza, age 60, formerly a resident of Lee County, Georgia.  Dr. Sperrazza was convicted in United States District Court after a four day trial before the Honorable W. Louis Sands, United States District Judge for the Middle District of Georgia.

Dr. Sperrazza was convicted of all five counts in the indictment against him.  Counts 1-3 of the indictment charged Dr. Sperrazza with felony tax evasion.  Counts 4 and 5 charged him with currency structuring.  The government’s evidence at trial proved that Dr. Sperrazza personally cashed over one million dollars in patient checks at the counter of a local bank, in Albany, Georgia.  Dr. Sperrazza structured the cash transactions always in amounts under $10,000 for the purpose of evading the bank reporting requirements of federal law and for the purpose of furthering his tax avoidance scheme.

Dr. Sperrazza was formerly an anesthesiologist in Albany, Georgia, for many years.  He later moved to Panama City Beach, Florida where he briefly operated a pain clinic.  Dr. Sperrazza is not currently involved in the practice of medicine.

Dr. Sperrazza remains out on bond after the verdict.  He will be sentenced in about three months.  He faces a maximum possible sentence of five years for each count of tax evasion and a maximum sentence for ten years for each count of currency structuring, together with a fine of up to $250,000 for each of the five separate counts of conviction.  The government will seek restitution and forfeiture at the sentencing hearing, as well.

“In these difficult economic times, the evasion of taxes is especially damaging to the United States and this office will pursue vigorously those who seek to enrich themselves by evading their lawful obligation to the Government,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Moore.

“Financial crimes, especially structuring, are oftentimes a method used to evade payment
of taxes lawfully owed to the United States,” stated Veronica Hyman-Pillot, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.  “The guilty verdict returned today clearly reaffirms that knowingly defying the tax laws will not be tolerated by the American people.”

The case was jointly investigated by the Criminal Investigation Division and the Special Enforcement Program of the Internal Revenue Service and by the United States Secret Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James N. Crane for the Middle District of Georgia.

Inquiries regarding the case should be directed to Sue McKinney, Public Affairs Specialist, United States Attorney's Office at (478) 621-2602.