PORTLAND, Ore.-Bruce L. Lamon, 64, of Hillsboro, Oregon, pleaded guilty today to one count of tax evasion after failing to pay $744,000 in personal income taxes.
“As a retired attorney, Lamon was well-versed in the law and clearly knew tax evasion was a crime. It’s a crime of greed and arrogance that hurts every citizen who lawfully pays their taxes," said Billy J. Williams, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
“Mr. Lamon’s chosen profession to serve those seeking justice from the law stands in stark contrast to his admission of guilt to evade his personal tax liability," said IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Justin Campbell. “IRS-Criminal Investigation prioritizes bringing to justice individuals who engage in tax evasion in order to protect the integrity of the tax system by ensuring everyone pays their share."
According to court documents, between 2006 and 2012, Lamon worked as a commercial litigator at a law firm in Honolulu, Hawaii earning a substantial income. After retiring in 2012, he withdrew all the funds in his retirement account-approximately $395,000-and moved to Hillsboro. As of mid-October 2015, Lamon owed approximately $744,000 in individual income taxes for calendar years 2008 through 2013. To conceal his assets from the IRS and evade payment of his taxes, Lamon paid cash for vehicles, titling them in his former spouse’s name, and purchased rental properties with cash using an LLC registered in Hawaii.
On Oct. 22, 2018, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a two-count indictment alleging Lamon evaded payment of his taxes for calendar years 2008 through 2013 and failed to disclose rental income in an application to proceed In Forma Pauperis in a civil case he filed in federal court in 2016.
Lamon faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced on July 9, 2019 before U.S. District Court Judge Marco A. Hernandez.
As part of the plea agreement, Lamon will pay $744,000 in restitution to the IRS. At sentencing, the government will move to dismiss Count 2 of the October 2018 indictment charging Lamon with giving a false statement.
This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and prosecuted by Seth D. Uram, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and IRS-CI remind Oregonians that tax day is Monday, April 15, 2019. For tips to assist taxpayers in choosing a reputable tax professional or preparing their own taxes, visit the IRS website: https://www.irs.gov/help-resources.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
