OAKLAND – In a shocking turn of events, Hugh Leslie Baras, a psychologist and Berkeley resident, has been convicted of five counts of tax evasion and one count of theft of government property.
A federal jury delivered the guilty verdict after a seven-day trial before the honorable Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, United States District Court Judge.
The evidence presented during the trial revealed that Baras, a former psychologist at Kaiser Permanente and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine, started a solo, private practice in Palo Alto, Calif., in late 2002.
Baras’ private practice generated over $1,000,000 in income from 2005 through 2009, but he failed to report this income on his federal tax returns. In addition, despite being self-employed and earning substantial income, Baras continued to collect Disability Insurance Benefits from the Social Security Administration, totaling $80,615.80 from 2006 to 2009.
Prosecutors argue that Baras’ actions were a blatant attempt to defraud the government and avoid paying his fair share of taxes.
Baras’ sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 22, 2014, at 2:00 p.m., before Judge Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland. The maximum statutory penalty for each count of tax evasion is five years in prison and a fine of $250,000, while the maximum statutory penalty for theft of government property is ten years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Assistant United States Attorney Michael G. Pitman is leading the prosecution, with the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, and the United States Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, contributing to the investigation.
Baras’ conviction serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of tax evasion and theft of government property. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as more information becomes available.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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