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Date: 03-19-2019
Case Style:
United States of America v. William Waller, Jr.
Case Number: 2:18-cr-00112-JCM-VCF
Judge: James C. Mahan
Court: United States District Court for the District of Nevada (Clark County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: Christopher Magnani and Michael Landman
Defendant's Attorney: Lowell Harrison Becraft, Jr. and Shawn R. Perez
Description:
Las Vegas, NV - Las Vegas Real Estate Broker Convicted of Tax Fraud
A real estate broker, who failed to file federal income tax returns for nearly 20 years and attempted to evade more than half a million dollars in income taxes, was convicted by a jury in Las Vegas, Nevada.
William Waller Jr. was convicted of one count of attempting to evade the payment of federal income taxes of more than $500,000 for the years 2004-2009 and two counts of failing to file his 2011 and 2012 income tax returns.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Waller, after filing his tax return for 1998 reporting zero income, failed to file federal individual income tax returns for almost two decades. He concealed his real estate income from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) with various methods, including using bank accounts in the name of a business to receive his commissions and pay his personal expenses, drawing substantial amounts of cash from those accounts, and borrowing against a piece of real property he owned to eliminate his equity in the property. For example, despite earning income of more than $400,000 in 2011 and $170,000 in 2012, Waller filed no tax returns in those years.
Waller faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison for the tax evasion count and one year in prison on each failure to file a tax return count as well as a period of supervised release, monetary penalties and restitution.
U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan scheduled Waller’s sentencing for June 21.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Trutanich commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website at www.justice.gov/tax.
Charges:
26:7201 - Evasion of Payment
(1)
26:7212(a) - Attempting to Interfere with Administration of Internal Revenue Laws
(2)
26:7203 - Willful Failure to File Return
(3-4)
18:1014 - False Statements on Loan Application
(5)
Outcome: 03/15/2019 100 MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS - Jury Trial (Day Five) as to William Waller held on 3/15/2019 before Judge James C. Mahan. Crtrm Administrator: NEV; AUSA: Christopher Magnani and Michael Landman. FBI Agent Brian Peng is present; Def Counsel: Lowell Becraft; Court Reporter: Amber McClane; Time of Hearing: 9:00 a.m. - 4:41 p.m.; Courtroom: 6A.
Day 5 of the Jury Trial. Defendant is present on current terms of release. Jury instructions read by the Court. Mr. Landman makes closing statements. Mr. Becraft makes closing statements. Mr. Magnani makes rebuttal closing statements. The jury begins deliberating. See attached minutes. Defendant is continued on present terms of release.
Jury Trial continued to 3/18/2019 at 9:00 AM in LV Courtroom 6A before Judge James C. Mahan.
(Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - NEV) (Entered: 03/18/2019)
03/15/2019 101 ORDER as to William Waller. This Court having ordered the jury impaneled in this action to be kept together during period(s) of deliberation, IT IS ORDERED that all meals for said jury shall be paid by the Clerk of Court. Signed by Judge James C. Mahan on 3/15/2019. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - JM) (Entered: 03/18/2019)
Defendant was found guilty.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: