Former Chicago Attorney Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Tax Fraud and Witness Tampering

Strategic Insights -

A 76-year-old former Chicago attorney, MICHAEL ABRAMSON, has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for committing tax fraud, attempting to tamper with a witness, and violating a court order. Abramson's crimes involved providing over $1 million in personal expenses to a woman he was romantically involved with, deducting the payments on his individual taxes as commissions or loans, and listing the fraudulent loans as an asset in corporate tax returns. He was also found guilty of attempting to obstruct the IRS and FBI's investigation into his misconduct and tampering with a key witness in violation of a court order during his prosecution.

Key Takeaways:

  • Abramson was convicted on all 15 tax fraud, witness tampering, and violation of court order charges against him.
  • The payments related to a condo in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood, several luxury automobiles, and travel, shopping, and restaurant expenses.
  • Abramson caused his bookkeeper to review a scripted transcript of her previous court testimony before trial, which was obtained by law enforcement.
  • Abramson, an attorney practicing in Illinois for decades, defrauded the IRS and repeatedly attempted to obstruct the investigation into his misconduct.
  • The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Jason Bushey, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.
  • Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard M. Rothblatt and Edward A. Liva, Jr. argued in the government's sentencing memorandum that Abramson "knew better, yet sought to conceal and profit from personal payments to his mistress."

Statistics:

  • 30 months in federal prison: the sentence given to Abeamson.
  • $25,000: the fine imposed on Abramson.
  • 15: the number of tax fraud, witness tampering, and violation of court order charges against Abramson.
  • 2.5 years: the duration of the prison sentence, with Abramson to serve 30 months.
  • $1 million: the amount of personal expenses provided to Abramson's romantic partner.

Sources:

  • United States Attorney's Office Northern District of Illinois
  • United States District Court in Chicago