An El Paso entrepreneur found himself on the wrong side of the law after a federal court sentenced him to prison time for tax violations. Edward Dean La Puma, the 58-year-old owner of a granite countertop business by the name of 77 Stone, was convicted of neglecting to handle and pay trust fund taxes properly over a span of several years.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, La Puma's mismanagement occurred through 20 tax periods, from the first quarter of 2018 to the last quarter of 2022, culminating in a tax loss amounting to $818,096. Despite the gravity of his fiscal neglect, officials stated he has agreed to a restitution payment to the IRS of $383,551.
La Puma's legal troubles became official with an indictment on April 24, 2024, and his arrest was executed nearly a month later on May 21. It wasn't until November 21 that he pleaded guilty to one of the counts against him as part of a plea bargain.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas announced the sentencing, with the IRS Criminal Investigation department having delved into the case. La Puma will face 18 months behind bars for his misdeeds. Assistant U.S. Attorney Micaela Glass carried out the prosecution of the case as detailed in the statement made available by the Justice Department.
