NEW YORK – A Chicago lawyer has been convicted in New York for his role in what authorities have called the largest tax fraud in history.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara (buh-RAH'-ruh) says Paul Daugerdas was found guilty Friday of conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service, evade taxes, commit mail and wire fraud and other crimes.
Prosecutors say Daugerdas made $95 million in fees from creating and marketing tax shelters for wealthy clients. They say he owed more than $32 million in taxes but paid less than $8,000.
The tax shelters were marketed from 1994 through 2004.
Daugerdas faces up to 58 years in prison when sentenced next March. A lawyer for the 63-year-old Wilmette, Ill., man hasn't returned messages seeking comment.
A co-defendant was acquitted of all charges.
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