Tax Cheat & Gun Violator Lamer Faces 25 Years

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – David Eugene Lamer, 47, of Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, is staring down the barrel of a potential 25-year prison sentence after admitting to a scheme to cheat the government out of tax dollars and illegally possessing firearms. The guilty plea, entered before United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson, marks a significant win for federal investigators and a grim outlook for Lamer.

Lamer pleaded guilty to three counts related to a conspiracy stretching from June 9, 2007, to April 15, 2008, where he and accomplices allegedly concealed income from the Internal Revenue Service. The aim? Simple: avoid paying what he owed. This wasn’t a victimless crime; it’s a direct theft from American taxpayers, and the feds aren’t letting it slide.

But the tax evasion isn’t the whole story. On September 2nd and 3rd, 2010, authorities discovered Lamer in possession of a small arsenal: a FIE, Model Standard .38 caliber pistol, a Remington, Model 760, .30-06 caliber rifle, a Marlin, Model 1894, .357 caliber rifle, and a Savage/Stevens (Western Field) Model 30, 16 gauge shotgun. The problem? Lamer wasn’t legally allowed to own any of them.

Records show that back on January 8, 1986, Lamer was convicted of burglary in Cambria County, Pennsylvania – a felony carrying a potential sentence exceeding one year. Federal law is crystal clear: a prior felony conviction of that nature disqualifies an individual from possessing firearms or ammunition. Lamer knew this, or should have, yet he brazenly stockpiled weapons anyway.

Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie L. Haines is leading the prosecution, backed by the combined forces of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. This wasn’t a random bust; it was a calculated takedown as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a federal initiative designed to crush gun violence and hold criminals accountable.

Judge Gibson has set sentencing for August 9, 2013, at 9:30 a.m. Lamer faces a maximum of 25 years behind bars, a hefty $750,000 fine, or both. While sentencing guidelines will factor in the severity of the crimes and Lamer’s criminal history, one thing is certain: his days of dodging taxes and illegally packing heat are over. This case sends a clear message – in Western Pennsylvania and beyond – that federal law enforcement is watching, and they will prosecute those who attempt to defraud the system and endanger the public.

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