Four Defendants Charged Panama Papers Investigation
https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/four-defendants-charged-panama-papers-investigation
Three of the four defendants named in the indictment have been arrested. BRAUER, who worked as an investment manager for Mossfon Asset Management, S.A., an asset management company closely affiliated with Mossack Fonseca, was arrested in Paris, France, on November 15, 2018. VON DER GOLTZ, a former U.S. resident and taxpayer, was arrested in London, United Kingdom, on December 3, 2018. GAFFEY, a U.S.-based accountant, was arrested in Medfield, Massachusetts, this morning. OWENS, a Panamanian attorney who worked for Mossack Fonseca, remains at large.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “As alleged, these defendants went to extraordinary lengths to circumvent U.S. tax laws in order to maintain their wealth and the wealth of their clients. For decades, the defendants, employees and a client of global law firm Mossack Fonseca, allegedly shuffled millions of dollars through off-shore accounts and created shell companies to hide fortunes. In fact, as alleged, they had a playbook to repatriate un-taxed money into the U.S. banking system. Now, their international tax scheme is over, and these defendants face years in prison for their crimes.”
AAG Brian A. Benczkowski said: “Law firms, asset managers, and accountants play key roles enabling entry into the global financial system. The charges announced today demonstrate our commitment to prosecute professionals who facilitate financial crimes across international borders and the tax cheats who utilize their services.”