A Waseca accountant has been sentenced to 54 months in federal prison for defrauding his clients of nearly $1.6 million.
United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger announced the sentencing of Roger Herman Goetz Jr., 59, who pleaded guilty on January 20, 2015, to two counts of wire fraud.
According to his guilty plea and documents filed in court, Goetz has been a certified public accountant since 1980 and was previously licensed in the State of Minnesota.
From at least December 2009 until at least February 2013, the defendant repeatedly lied to his tax preparation clients to steal their money.
One of the victims, R.W., wired $115,000 to Goetz to pay the estimated state tax on his deceased parents’ estate, but the money was never paid and was instead used by Goetz for his own business, Core Wafer Systems (CWS).
Another victim, T.B., hired Goetz to prepare estate tax returns for his deceased parents, but Goetz stole $170,000 from him and later gave him a bounced check to cover the penalties.
Goetz repeatedly used stolen money from his clients for his own business and lied to at least nine investors about purported investments in CWS and an assisted living facility in New Ulm, Minn.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Waseca Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Svendsen prosecuted the case.
Defendant Information:
ROGER HERMAN GOETZ, JR., 59, Waseca, Minn.
Convicted:
Wire Fraud, 2 counts
Sentenced:
54 months in prison, Three years supervised release, $1,599,857.77 in restitution
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- John L. Steele, Mail and Wire Fraud, Minnesota 2023 · Minnesota
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- Bryan Reichel, Investment Fraud Scheme, Minnesota 2016 · Minnesota
Key Facts
- State: Minnesota
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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