Laura Sanders, CFE

• White Collar Crime

Financial Investigator Laura Sanders is a key member of Strasburger's white collar crime team and tax department. She is a former IRS Special Agent with numerous government awards to her credit. As a Certified Fraud Examiner, Ms. Sanders possesses the expertise to investigate allegations of fraud, identify and develop defense theories, and assist in all aspects of a fraud case from inception to trial. The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, in the words of The Wall Street Journal, is "the premier financial sleuthing organization."

Ms. Sanders has extensive experience in obtaining evidence and reconstructing complex financial transactions. This includes:

• Reconstructing, reconciling, and analyzing financial documents
• Preparing bank deposit analysis, check spreads, and expenditures analyses
• Preparing source and application of funds analysis
• Investigating and obtaining evidence, including conducting interviews and preparing affidavits
• Preparing document summaries
• Identifying weaknesses in case strategies and resolving them
• Assisting in trial preparation
• Testifying as a summary witness with respect to the results of investigations.

REPRESENTATIVE CASE WORK

Assisted Strasburger attorneys handling a two-year tax audit of a group of clients in the insurance industry with a proposed deficiency of $2 million, including taxes and penalties. After complete analysis, reconciliation, and presentation to IRS appeals, obtained a $2,600 refund.

Assisted Strasburger attorneys handling a four-year criminal/civil tax investigation of a sole proprietor in the retail industry with a proposed deficiency of $3.3 million, including taxes, interest, and penalties. After complete reconciliation, analysis and protest to IRS appeals, total tax liability reduced to $150,000.

Assisted Strasburger attorneys handling a tax audit of an estate in which $4.8 million in gifts were brought back into the estate for estate tax purposes based on the decedent's alleged mental incompetence. Conducted extensive interviews and prepared affidavits, after which IRS conceded the competency issue.

Assisted Strasburger attorneys handling a criminal investigation of a multi-state night club business for allegations of money-laundering and tax fraud. Prepared analysis, reconciliations, and reports for presentation to Department of Justice, after which the case was declined for prosecution.

Assisted Strasburger attorneys handling a three-year criminal investigation of a small business for allegations of tax fraud. Conducted extensive interviews and document analysis for presentation to Department of Justice, after which the case was declined for prosecution.

Assisted Strasburger attorneys defending a criminal prosecution of a provider in a major healthcare fraud case involving three federal agencies. Completed extensive document analysis, interviewed witnesses, prepared summary charts, and testified at criminal trial.

PUBLICATIONS

Has the IRS Really Changed? What's Happening at the Newly-Restructured IRS? – Texas Bar Journal, April 2002, Vol. 65, No. 4, Reprinted with Permission. Adobe PDF Format. (Co-author with Anthony E. Rebollo)

EDUCATION

University of Texas at Tyler
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (summa cum laude) 1989

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