South Euclid Lawyer Faces $523K Restitution, Home Confinement for Tax Fraud

GRIMY TIMES EXCLUSIVE: A South Euclid attorney has been slammed with a $523,253 restitution order and six months of home confinement for his role in a massive tax fraud scheme. The disgraced lawyer, Ronald L. Rosenfield, 70, pleaded guilty to criminal charges earlier this year, according to United States Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach and IRS Special Agent in Charge Kathy Enstrom.

Enstrom made it clear that the IRS Criminal Investigation Division takes violations of employment tax laws seriously, emphasizing that such fraud can severely impact employees who might see their social security, Medicare, and unemployment benefits diminished or erased.

The restitution order stems from Rosenfield’s failure to report and pay income taxes and FICA taxes withheld from wages paid by his law firm, Ronald Rosenfield Co., L.P.A. The unpaid taxes cover the period from December 2006 through March 2011, with allegations that he also failed to report additional employment taxes dating back to June 2001.

Rosenfield retained a national payroll firm to prepare the necessary tax returns but never filed them or made the required payments, as per the information provided. The case against him also includes charges of claiming credits on his personal income tax returns for unpaid income tax withholdings from his own wages.

Assistant United States Attorney Justin J. Roberts handled the prosecution of the case, which followed an investigation by the IRS-CI in Independence, Ohio.

The sentence sends a stark reminder to law professionals about the severe consequences of failing to comply with employment tax laws, underscoring the commitment to justice for all, even at the highest legal ranks.