A British national has been brought to justice for his role in evading $3.6 million in taxes and embezzling $130,000 from his former employer.
Paul B. Bowker, 60, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of failure to account for and pay over withholding and FICA (Social Security) taxes and one count of bank fraud.
The crimes took place from April 2014 through January 2016, during which time Bowker was the chief financial officer and vice president of finance at a company with offices in the Northern District of Oklahoma.
Bowker was responsible for withholding income taxes and FICA taxes from employees’ paychecks and for paying the monies over to the IRS. However, he willfully failed to file quarterly employment tax returns for the company and failed to pay over the majority of the employment taxes owed to the IRS, totaling nearly $3.6 million.
During the investigation, agents discovered that the defendant had not embezzled the tax monies that he willfully neglected to pay, and the IRS was able to recover the funds.
Bowker also committed bank fraud as the company’s chief financial officer. In his position, he was entrusted with a company’s Visa credit card and was responsible for paying the monthly credit card bill by authorizing the electronic transfer of funds from the company’s checking account at Mabrey Bank, in Bixby, to the company’s Visa account.
From January 2014 through December 2015, Bowker fraudulently used the Visa credit card to make $130,000 worth of purchases for his own benefit. Bowker purchased items at drug stores, department stores, online retailers, furniture stores, gas stations, and liquor stores.
A federal judge will sentence Bowker at a later date.
Bowker fled the United States three years ago after being charged with the crimes. The U.S. Attorney’s Office eventually received a tip that led to Bowker’s arrest by local authorities in the United Kingdom. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with officials from the United Kingdom to ensure Bowker’s extradition to the United States for prosecution.
IRS/Criminal Investigation and the FBI conducted the investigation. The Department of Justice Office of International Affairs coordinated the defendant’s extradition. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard M. Cella and recently retired Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. McLoughlin prosecuted the case.
Defendant’s Details: Paul B. Bowker, Failure to account for and pay over withholding and FICA taxes, Bank fraud, Oklahoma, April 2014 – January 2016, Pleaded guilty.
Crime Date: April 2014 – January 2016
Sentence: Plea agreement, awaiting sentencing
Amount of Money Involved: $3,600,000 (taxes), $130,000 (embezzlement)
Location: Northern District of Oklahoma
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Key Facts
- State: Oklahoma
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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