U.S. Chief District Judge Fred Biery handed down prison sentences to three individuals in their role in a $133 million loss fraud and tax-related case. This is the largest case of its kind ever prosecuted in the Western District of Texas.
John Bean, the owner of San Antonio-based Synergy Personnel, was sentenced to six years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The judge ordered Bean to pay more than $120 million in restitution after pleading guilty to a money laundering charge and mail fraud conspiracy charge in March 2013.
Pat Mire, the owner and manager of several San Antonio-based professional employer organizations, was sentenced to three years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Mire was ordered to pay $10 million in restitution after pleading guilty to a money laundering charge and a mail fraud conspiracy charge in November 2011.
Mike Solis, an executive assistant at several San Antonio-based PEOs, was sentenced to two years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty a mail fraud conspiracy charge in December 2012.
A fourth defendant, John D. Walker II, also an owher and manager of several San Antonio-based PEOs, was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay $450,000 after pleading guilty to a Klein tax fraud conspiracy charge and for making false statements in May 2012.
United States Attorney Robert Pitman, Acting FBI Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse and IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Steve McCollough made the announcement. Prosecutors claim that the business owners siphoned off money from payroll clients and failed to pay taxes.
“Motivated by greed, the defendant perpetrated an extensive fraud scheme, designed to steal money from their clients and taxpayers over a number of years. The FBI will continue to work with our partners to identify, investigate and prosecute others, like the defendant, who seek unjust enrichment by victimizing others,” Rouse in a release.
“The defendants involved in this, the largest ever single criminal tax case in San Antonio’s history, knowingly violated our country’s tax laws. They chose to ignore their responsibilities and live a lavish lifestyle on money belonging to their employees and to the U.S. Government. IRS Special Agents will continue to aggressively pursue these types of very serious tax crimes,” IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Steve McCollough said in a release.
