International Fugitive Awaits Sentencing After More Than 20 Years of Evasion
After more than two decades on the run, a former president of a fraudulent telemarketing firm and international fugitive Robin McPherson appeared in federal court earlier this week. Agents assigned to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Field Office in Panama City apprehended McPherson in Costa Rica with help from local law enforcement.
McPherson faces sentencing for a guilty verdict in 2000 for tax evasion and is to stand trial in the District of Oregon on money laundering charges stemming from a real estate scam in 2020.
As president, chief operating officer, and co-owner of a wireless cable systems partnership, McPherson took steps to evade paying taxes on more than $30 million in profits before the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) dissolved the firm. In December 2000, McPherson and his co-conspirators were convicted at a bench trial of tax evasion and conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS); however, McPherson fled the country ahead of his sentencing. For the 21 years since, he has evaded capture.
“This defendant dodged both his taxes and his sentencing hearing,” stated U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman for the Southern District of California, “He’ll now be held responsible for both.”
A criminal complaint unsealed last week unearthed McPherson continued schemes. The FBI has been investigating McPherson since August 2019 when individuals reported losing money in a real estate scam operating out of Springfield, Oregon, and Costa Rica.
Federal prosecutors allege McPherson used various marketing techniques, including cold calls, promotional websites, and Facebook advertisements, to recruit investors to invest in an alleged Costa Rican real estate development opportunity. He would then contact those who expressed interest in Costa Rica to cultivate the scam.
“It is fitting that Robin McPherson was arrested and returned to the United States to be sentenced on his tax crime convictions,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division. “While honest Americans are paying their fair share this filing season, they will be reminded that the department and IRS will ensure that those who have defrauded the IRSs are held fully accountable, no matter how long it takes.”
McPherson faces up to five years in prison on each conspiracy and tax evasion count, supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A sentencing date has not yet been set.