Las Vegas Attorney Paul Wommer Convicted Of Tax And Money Structuring Crimes

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Las Vegas attorney Paul Wommer was found guilty this afternoon of tax and money structuring charges following a three-day bench trial before U.S. District Judge Gloria M. Navarro, announced Daniel G. Bogden, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada.

Wommer, 60, of Las Vegas, was convicted of three counts of structuring financial transactions, one count of tax evasion, and one count of making and subscribing a false tax return, statement or other document. 

According to the court records and evidence introduced at trial, between June 30 and July 15, 2010, Wommer made or assisted in 15 structured deposits totaling $138,700 for the purpose of evading bank reporting requirements.  These deposits were made as part of a pattern of illegal activity involving more than $100,000 during a 12-month time period.   During that same time period, Wommer willfully attempted to evade federal income taxes in the amount of $13,020 by concealing and attempting to conceal his assets, by making false statements to the IRS, and by placing funds and property in the names of nominees. 

Wommer is scheduled to be sentenced on August 1, 2013.   He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $500,000 fine on each structuring count, up to five years in prison and a $250,0000 fine on the tax evasion count, and up to three years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the false return count, and

The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew W. Duncan.  

Today's announcement is part of efforts underway by President Obama's Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force (FFETF) which was created in November 2009 to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys' offices and state and local partners, it's the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Over the past three fiscal years, the Justice Department has filed more than 10,000 financial fraud cases against nearly 15,000 defendants including more than 2,700 mortgage fraud defendants. For more information on the task force, visit www.stopfraud.gov.