William Murray, a Sacramento accountant who stole more than $13 million from 52 clients between 2001 and 2009, pleaded guilty today in federal court to mail fraud and interference with tax administration.
U. S. District Judge Edward J. Garcia ordered Murray to immediately be taken into custody by deputy U. S. marshals. The judge set sentencing for May 28.
Murray, 55, told clients to write checks to accounts under his control so he could pay taxes or make investments on their behalf. Much of the money went to support his extravagant lifestyle, including the purchase of real property, a classic car, a fleet of limousines, expensive jewelry and rugs, and fine wines.
He changed his clients' addresses to his own so they would not receive the IRS' delinquent tax notices.
As demands for payment arrived from clients and the IRS, Murray's fraud became a Ponzi scheme that he perpetuated by using more than $3.5 million in recent client receipts to pay off demands stemming from earlier theft.
Before the house of cards collapsed, Murray was a man of some prominence. He was a certified public accountant with a solid client base.
He regularly offered tax advice on a local television channel. He was used as an expert witness in courts in five counties.
He served as a federal tax agent between 1976 and 1980, when he moved to Sacramento to join a former IRS colleague in private practice.
Murray's plea agreement calls for the forfeiture of all his remaining assets to the government, victim restitution, and full disclosure of his finances to the victims.
Source: http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/crime/archives/2010/03/sacramento-acco.html
Showing posts with label taxes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label taxes. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Italian tax details posted on web
Privacy watchdogs have ordered the Italian authorities to block access to every Italian's personal tax details.
This comes after they were published on the internet and made available for almost 24 hours.
The move to release the information was one of the last acts of the outgoing centre-left government - and has shocked many tax-shy Italians.
Without warning, the tax authority posted on its website every tax payer's declared earnings and tax paid.
With just a couple of mouse clicks Italians were able to see just how much their favourite footballer, TV star or singer earned and paid in tax.
The idea was also an open invitation to nosey neighbours, making it just as simple to see how much the couple next door earned, or how much your local doctor or priest paid in tax.
The site proved a massive hit. Within hours it was overwhelmed and impossible to reach.
The finance ministry described the move as a bid to improve transparency. Critics condemned it as an outrageous breach of privacy.
The timing of the move, just days before the current administration hands over to Silvio Berlusconi, was intriguing too.
The outgoing government came to power promising to tackle Italians' notoriously lax approach to paying tax - prompting some sceptics to see the move as just end of term sour grapes.
Mr Prodi's coalition cracked down on tax evasion
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7376608.stm
This comes after they were published on the internet and made available for almost 24 hours.
The move to release the information was one of the last acts of the outgoing centre-left government - and has shocked many tax-shy Italians.
Without warning, the tax authority posted on its website every tax payer's declared earnings and tax paid.
With just a couple of mouse clicks Italians were able to see just how much their favourite footballer, TV star or singer earned and paid in tax.
The idea was also an open invitation to nosey neighbours, making it just as simple to see how much the couple next door earned, or how much your local doctor or priest paid in tax.
The site proved a massive hit. Within hours it was overwhelmed and impossible to reach.
The finance ministry described the move as a bid to improve transparency. Critics condemned it as an outrageous breach of privacy.
The timing of the move, just days before the current administration hands over to Silvio Berlusconi, was intriguing too.
The outgoing government came to power promising to tackle Italians' notoriously lax approach to paying tax - prompting some sceptics to see the move as just end of term sour grapes.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7376608.stm
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