Santa Fe Engineer Darryl Gutierrez Found Guilty of Tax Fraud

ALBUQUERQUE – In a stunning turn of events, federal jury finds Darryl J. Gutierrez guilty of obstructing IRS and filing false tax returns. The 61-year-old Santa Fe engineer had faced eleven counts of tax fraud.

Gutierrez, who worked for Los Alamos National Laboratory for nearly three decades, was accused of deliberately submitting false information to his employer and the IRS, seeking a refund he owed approximately $125,000.

The trial, which began in March 2017, revealed a pattern of obstructive conduct by Gutierrez, including the submission of frivolous correspondence to the IRS and false withholding forms. Between November 2010 and January 2011, he filed ten fraudulent tax returns for the years 2000-2009.

Acting U.S. Attorney James D. Tierney emphasized that ‘deliberate lies on an income tax return are a crime,’ reminding taxpayers of the importance of compliance with federal tax laws. IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Ismael Nevarez Jr. added, ‘Citizens have a duty to comply with the tax laws,’ hoping this case serves as a deterrent.

Gutierrez faces a maximum sentence of three years on each of the eleven counts, totaling 33 years in prison. Sentencing is pending, and Gutierrez was ordered to post a $200,000 bond.

This case is another reminder that white-collar crime carries serious penalties, as Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret Vierbuchen and Holland S. Kastrin lead the investigation and prosecution of this significant financial fraud.