Texas Entrepreneur Edward Dean La Puma Busted for $Millions in Unpaid Taxes

An El Paso man is behind bars for his alleged role in a massive tax evasion scheme that left millions of dollars in unpaid employment taxes. Edward Dean La Puma, 57, founder and sole proprietor of 77 Stone, a local business, faces 20 counts of failure to account for and pay over trust fund taxes.

According to an indictment, La Puma allegedly failed to truthfully account for and pay the trust fund taxes due to the IRS on behalf of his employees between March 2018 and January 2023. The indictment alleges that La Puma withheld millions in employee taxes, leaving his employees without the benefits to which they were entitled.

The charges against La Puma carry a significant prison sentence. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison for each count, totaling 100 years. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Ramsey E. Covington for the IRS Criminal Investigation Houston Field Office made the announcement. IRS CI is investigating the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Micaela Glass and Chris Skillern handling the prosecution.

La Puma’s indictment serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of tax evasion. An indictment is merely an allegation, and La Puma is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case highlights the importance of tax compliance and the IRS’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for tax evasion. The agency will continue to investigate and prosecute cases like La Puma’s to ensure that those who engage in tax evasion are brought to justice.