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Financial Investigator Laura Sanders is a key member of Strasburger's white collar crime team and tax controversy and litigation 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.
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REPRESENTATIVE CASE WORK
CRIMINAL
- In federal criminal case charging bank fraud, money laundering and conspiracy, traced financial transactions through bank accounts, accounting work papers, and tax returns, located supporting documents including key documents in SBA loan files and prepared defense memorandum with exhibits for AUSA and Special Agents with FBI and IRS/CI. Indictment dismissed.
- In FBI medicare fraud investigation, obtained return of truck full of search warrant records, located and interviewed key witnesses, obtained and analyzed key documents, and presented defense to AUSA and FBI special agents. Case closed without charges.
- In IRS criminal tax investigation, located and interviewed witnesses, including former bookkeeper and prepared witness declarations, prepared numerous boxes of records for response to IRS Summons, and developed information to discredit informant. Case declined for prosecution.
- In IRS 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. Subsequent civil audit alleging $15 million in tax – settled for $15,000.
- In IRS criminal tax investigation, identified problematic transactions early on in case, assembled witness statements including return preparer and current bookkeeper, and prepared Time Map chart with over 350 fact boxes linked to exhibits to trace all relevant facts. Case closed without charges.
- In IRS criminal investigation of a return preparer, interviewed key witnesses. Case closed without charges.
- In connection with 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.
- In connection with 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.
CIVIL
- In 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 refund.
- In 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 analysis, reconciliation, and protest to IRS appeals, total tax liability reduced to $150,000.
- In 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.
- In a tax audit of estate in which IRS disallowed the marital exemption, interviewed witnesses, prepared declarations, and obtained key documents, after which IRS conceded the marital exemption.
EMBEZZLEMENT INVESTIGATIONS
- In numerous instances, assisted Strasburger attorneys representing corporations to investigate and prove embezzlement by current and/or former employees. Where appropriate, prepare analysis and case report for presentation to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.
- Appointed by Special Prosecutor to investigate allegations of embezzlement by former County employee.
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