Luis E. Perez, the owner of several Orange County-based temporary staffing companies, has entered a guilty plea to tax evasion and aiding in the preparation of a false tax return, charges stemming from a scheme to defraud the IRS of nearly $60 million. The Department of Justice reported this significant plea, highlighting the culmination of a case that has detailed accounts of financial deceit and the avoidance of a just contribution to the public coffers.
The charges to which Mr. Perez pleaded guilty involved his failure to pay almost $30 million in taxes, penalties, and interest assessed against him, as well as his part in causing a false tax return to be filed by his staffing companies. In a U.S. Attorney's Office - Central District of California press release, they detailed Perez's extensive efforts to conceal approximately an additional $30 million in tax liabilities through a range of deceptive practices.
"This defendant’s greed and lies lasted over a decade and caused tens of millions of dollars in unpaid taxes to the IRS so he could live a lavish lifestyle," said United States Attorney Martin Estrada in a statement obtained by the Justice Department's website. Special Agent in Charge Jose Gonzalez of the IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office, also expressed the serious nature of Perez’s tax evasion, reiterating his responsibilities as a business owner which he woefully neglected.
Using funds secured from his businesses, Mr. Perez lived a life marked by opulence, purchasing luxury autos and a boat—and then attempted to obscure his ownership by listing them under the names of his businesses and other individuals. According to the Department of Justice's press release, among the extravagant purchases were a Ferrari 360 Spider F, a Rolls Royce Phantom, and a Lamborghini Aventador—symbols of wealth bought at the cost of the American tax system.
The preliminary hearing, prior to the forthcoming sentencing set for January 16, 2025, uncovered further allegations of tax violations by Mr. Perez between 2021 and 2023. The gravity of Perez's malfeasance was demonstrated by Assistant United States Attorneys Brett A. Sagel, James C. Hughes, and Robert A. Kemins in their prosecution of these financial crimes, which have shifted considerable burdens onto honest taxpayers. Through their diligent efforts, these individuals have carried forth justice on behalf of a populace who fulfills their obligations without resort to deceit.
