Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLCScarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLC

Firm Insights

Former Florida Mayor and Wife Charged with Tax Evasion

Author: Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC

Date: May 30, 2013

Key Contacts

Back

Julio Robaina, former mayor of Hialeah, Florida mayor, and his wife, Raiza Villacis Robaina, were recently charged with tax evasion in a Miami federal court, and are expected to turn themselves into the authorities to await further proceedings.

The couple was charged with fraud, conspiracy, lying to federal agents, and falsifying documents. Additionally, they were accused of receiving unreported interest payments in cash on more than $1 million in personal loans they made to friends and business associates, according to CBS Miami. One of these associates included Ponzi scheme con artist Luis Felipe Perez, whose investigation and subsequent conviction prompted investigators to look into the financial dealings of the Robainas.

During the 2011 investigation, Robaina repeatedly asserted his innocence and declared he was not under investigation because he had received no formal notice. Robaina argued that he was a victim of Perez, who conned individuals into investing in non-existent pawn shops and jewelry stores in New York and Miami, CBS Miami reported.

“We were investing in his business, which he bought and sold precious gems, or at least that’s what he represented to us,” Robaina told the news station. “We were victims of a friend who took advantage of us, but we are not under investigation.”

After examining bank and financial statements, authorities discovered the discrepancies relating to unreported interest payments. Under federal tax law, individuals are responsible for reporting any interest payments on loan, which may be considered taxable income.

“The tax system is built on the premise that taxpayers file accurate tax returns,” said Michael DePalma, the head IRS investigator in Miami, according to The Associated Press. “No one is above the law and those who willfully violate our nation’s tax laws will be held accountable for their actions.”

No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLC

Related Posts

See all
Genesis Mission: How the U.S. Government’s New AI Platform Will Reshape Corporate Innovation, Risk, and Competition post image

Genesis Mission: How the U.S. Government’s New AI Platform Will Reshape Corporate Innovation, Risk, and Competition

The federal government has launched one of the most ambitious scientific initiatives in decades, and it will redefine how companies develop technology, manage risk, and compete. The Genesis Mission, created by Executive Order and driven by the Department of Energy (“DOE”), is intended to accelerate scientific discovery through a national AI platform that links supercomputers, […]

Author: Michael J. Sheppeard

Link to post with title - "Genesis Mission: How the U.S. Government’s New AI Platform Will Reshape Corporate Innovation, Risk, and Competition"
Stablecoins and the GENIUS Act: How New Global Rules Are Reshaping Compliance post image

Stablecoins and the GENIUS Act: How New Global Rules Are Reshaping Compliance

Stablecoins Leave the Grey Zone Stablecoins were supposed to be the “boring” part of crypto: digital dollars that just work. Yet for years they have lived in a regulatory no-man’s-land, classified one day as securities, the next as commodities, and sometimes as something regulators had not even named yet. That uncertainty is finally starting to […]

Author: Bryce S. Robins

Link to post with title - "Stablecoins and the GENIUS Act: How New Global Rules Are Reshaping Compliance"
Don’t Overlook the Importance of Business License Management post image

Don’t Overlook the Importance of Business License Management

If you operate a business without the proper license, you risk fines, insurance issues, reputational harm, and even business closure. Even innocent mistakes, like forgetting to renew a license, can have significant consequences, such as losing your lawsuit for payment of services that are unlicensed, which makes it imperative to have business license management procedures […]

Author: Dan Brecher

Link to post with title - "Don’t Overlook the Importance of Business License Management"
Failing to Comply With NJ Rent Control Exemption May Prove Costly post image

Failing to Comply With NJ Rent Control Exemption May Prove Costly

What Developers Need to Know About New Jersey’s Rent Control Exemption Law to Ensure Entitlement to Exemption for Newly Constructed Multi-family Housing.  A property owner in Jersey City is facing a $400 million federal class action lawsuit alleging that the landlord did not follow the procedural steps required to be eligible for exemption from local […]

Author: Patrick T. Conlon

Link to post with title - "Failing to Comply With NJ Rent Control Exemption May Prove Costly"
Crypto Securities Law: When Tokens Become Investment Contracts post image

Crypto Securities Law: When Tokens Become Investment Contracts

The application of traditional federal securities laws to crypto assets continues to evolve. In some cases, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) considers tokens and other digital assets to be securities. This makes them subject to federal securities law, including the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This classification has […]

Author: Bryce S. Robins

Link to post with title - "Crypto Securities Law: When Tokens Become Investment Contracts"
The Due Diligence Process for NY Condominiums and Cooperatives post image

The Due Diligence Process for NY Condominiums and Cooperatives

While the New York City real estate market can be extremely competitive, moving too quickly often backfires. Before purchasing a condominium or cooperative in New York City, it is important to do you homework. Purchasing property in NYC can involve a dizzying number of legal issues. These include condo and co-op rules, rent restrictions, and […]

Author: Jesse M. Dimitro

Link to post with title - "The Due Diligence Process for NY Condominiums and Cooperatives"

No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

Sign up to get the latest from our attorneys!

Explore What Matters Most to You.

Consider subscribing to our Firm Insights mailing list by clicking the button below so you can keep up to date with the firm`s latest articles covering various legal topics.

Stay informed and inspired with the latest updates, insights, and events from Scarinci Hollenbeck. Our resource library provides valuable content across a range of categories to keep you connected and ahead of the curve.

Let`s get in touch!

* The use of the Internet or this form for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form. By providing a telephone number and submitting this form you are consenting to be contacted by SMS text message. Message & data rates may apply. Message frequency may vary. You can reply STOP to opt-out of further messaging.

Sign up to get the latest from the Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC attorneys!