A California attorney has been charged with serious tax crimes after an investigation revealed that he allegedly tried to cheat the government by not paying the correct amount of taxes. The attorney, who works in San Diego and runs a law firm that helps companies go public, is accused of several actions that led to underreporting his income and failing to file tax returns altogether.
Krueger’s Alleged Efforts to Avoid Paying Taxes
The attorney in question is Robert Blair Krueger Jr., a lawyer who owns and operates The Krueger Group LLP, a law firm based in San Diego. The firm helps businesses become publicly traded, which involves legal work for companies that want to list their shares on the stock market.
According to the charges, Krueger tried to prevent the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from accurately determining how much money he owed in taxes. He is accused of providing his tax preparer with false and misleading information, leading to inaccurate tax returns. These returns reportedly showed a lower income than Krueger actually earned from his law practice. By doing this, he allegedly paid less in taxes than he should have.
On top of that, Krueger is also accused of failing to file any personal federal tax returns after 2018. This is a serious issue, as failing to file tax returns can result in penalties, interest charges, and possible criminal charges.
The Charges Against Krueger
The grand jury returned an indictment against Krueger, meaning the government has formally accused him of committing several crimes related to his taxes. The charges include:
- Tax evasion: This is the crime of deliberately avoiding paying taxes by illegal means. In Krueger’s case, the government claims he tried to hide his true income and reduce the amount of taxes he owed.
- Filing a false tax return: Krueger is accused of providing false information on his tax returns, which led to inaccurate filings that showed he owed less money in taxes than he actually did.
- Failing to file tax returns: For several years, Krueger did not file his tax returns at all. This is a crime in itself and can lead to serious penalties, including prison time.
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If Krueger is convicted of these crimes, he faces significant penalties. Tax evasion could result in up to five years in prison, while filing a false tax return could lead to three years behind bars. In addition, each count of failing to file tax returns could carry up to a year in prison.
The Investigation and Legal Process
The investigation into Krueger’s actions was led by the IRS Criminal Investigation division, a specialized branch of the IRS that looks into financial crimes. The IRS Criminal Investigation team works to uncover people who intentionally break tax laws to avoid paying their fair share.
The case is being prosecuted by two trial attorneys from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Tax Division, who specialize in handling complex cases involving tax evasion and other tax crimes. The attorneys will now work to present the evidence and prove the charges against Krueger in court.
It is important to note that an indictment is not the same as a conviction. In the United States, everyone is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This means that Krueger will have the chance to defend himself against these charges and will only be found guilty if the government can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he committed these crimes.
The charges against Krueger serve as a reminder of the serious consequences of tax fraud. Tax evasion is a federal crime, and the government takes it very seriously. Anyone found guilty of intentionally evading taxes or filing false returns can face severe legal penalties, including prison time and large fines.
