Michael D. Brandner, Tax Evasion, Alaska 2023

Alaska's medical community is reeling after the indictment of a prominent plastic surgeon on charges of tax evasion and wire fraud.

According to a superseding indictment, Michael D. Brandner, a 28-year veteran of the medical field, attempted to evade over $600,000 in federal income taxes by concealing financial accounts in Panama and Costa Rica. The indictment alleges that Brandner made false statements to IRS special agents and filed false tax returns for the years 2008, 2009, and 2010.

The indictment also charges Brandner with seven counts of wire fraud, stemming from a scheme to hide and conceal millions of dollars in assets from the Alaska courts and his wife during their divorce proceedings. Shortly after the divorce was filed, Brandner left Alaska and drove to Central America, converting assets into five cashier's checks worth over $3,000,000.

Brandner, who operates a plastic surgery practice in Anchorage, faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison for each of the three tax evasion charges and 20 years in prison for each of the seven wire fraud charges.

The case was investigated by the IRS-Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations, and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Ignacio Perez de la Cruz of the Justice Department's Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder for the District of Alaska.

Brandner's indictment serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of tax evasion and financial malfeasance. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen whether Brandner will be held accountable for his alleged crimes.

Defendant Information:

Defendant: Michael D. Brandner

Criminal Charges: Three counts of tax evasion and seven counts of wire fraud

City and State: Anchorage, Alaska

Date: September 2013 (indictment) and [current year] (superseding indictment)

Sentence: Currently pending

Dollar Amounts: Over $600,000 in evaded taxes, $9,000 in foreign interest income for 2008, $150,000 in foreign interest income for 2009 and 2010, and $3,000,000 in cashier's checks.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/alaska-plastic-surgeon-indicted-tax-evasion-charges-concealing-bank-accounts-panama-and-costa