El Paso Man Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion

EL PASO, Texas – In a brazen display of financial recklessness, Edward Dean La Puma, 57, founder and sole proprietor of 77 Stone, has been arrested and charged with 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. This egregious offense has left a trail of unpaid taxes, leaving his employees and the IRS in his debt.

La Puma’s alleged actions not only betray the trust of his employees but also undermine the very fabric of our tax system. As the sole proprietor of 77 Stone, La Puma had a fiduciary duty to ensure that his employees were paid fairly and that their taxes were properly accounted for and paid.

If convicted, La Puma faces up to five years in prison for each count, amounting to a total of 100 years in prison. 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, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Micaela Glass and Chris Skillern are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The pursuit of justice is a never-ending battle, and the Grimy Times will continue to shed light on those who would seek to undermine our tax system.