Las Vegas Attorney Paul Wommer Sentenced To Over Three Years In Prison For Structuring Bank Deposits And Tax Crimes

          LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Las Vegas attorney Paul Wommer was sentenced this morning by U.S. District Judge Gloria M. Navarro to 41 months in federal prison for making structured bank deposits to hide money from the IRS, evading income taxes, and filing a false tax return, announced Daniel G. Bogden, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada.

Wommer, 60, of Las Vegas, was found guilty in April following a bench trial.  Wommer was also sentenced to three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $7,500 fine and forfeit any proceeds of his crimes.  Judge Navarro also found that Wommer’s testimony at trial was not credible and increased his prison sentence for obstruction of justice.  Wommer was permitted to self-report to federal prison by Nov. 20, 2013.

“Mr. Wommer is the second attorney in the last three months in Nevada to be convicted and sentenced to prison for trying to hide money from the IRS,” said U.S. Attorney Bogden.  “If you do not pay taxes on your income and conceal the income from the IRS, the penalties are severe when you are caught.”

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. 

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.