Ronald L. Rosenfield, Tax Evasion, Cleveland OH, 2023

CLEVELAND, OH – Ronald L. Rosenfield, 70, of South Euclid, Ohio, is facing federal charges for allegedly stiffing the government on nearly $200,000 in employment taxes. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio announced the information today, detailing a years-long scheme to avoid paying what he owed.

According to the government’s filing, Rosenfield failed to remit approximately $196,832 in income taxes and FICA taxes withheld from employee wages at his law firm, Ronald Rosenfield Co., L.P.A. The alleged failure spanned eighteen consecutive calendar quarters, from December 2006 through March 2011. But the rot goes deeper; the information further alleges Rosenfield also skipped out on employment tax payments for quarters stretching back to June 2001.

What makes this case particularly galling? Rosenfield did employ a national payroll firm to prepare the necessary tax returns for the IRS. The firm did its job, providing Rosenfield with the paperwork – but he allegedly never filed it, and never sent a dime to the taxman. Instead, the information claims Rosenfield brazenly claimed tax credits on his personal income tax returns for the very taxes he hadn’t paid.

U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach’s office is handling the prosecution, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys John M. Siegel and Justin J. Roberts leading the charge. The investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Independence, Ohio, a unit known for relentlessly pursuing those who cheat the system. The case is assigned to United States District Judge John R. Adams in Akron.

An information is not a conviction. Rosenfield is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. However, if found guilty, the sentence will be determined by Judge Adams, taking into account Rosenfield’s background, role in the alleged offense, and other relevant factors. The statutory maximum sentence has not been disclosed, but the government notes it will likely be less than that maximum.

This isn’t just about numbers on a ledger. It’s about a man entrusted with upholding the law allegedly flouting it for personal gain. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds, bringing you the unvarnished truth about crime and corruption in the heartland.