The fraud trial in opposition to Youngstown's attorney will happen in March – Youngstown Vindicator
YOUNGSTOWN – The trial of a Youngstown attorney and another man charged with millions in tax fraud has been postponed from November 30 to March 22, 2021.
The defendants are Attorney Robert J. Rohrbaugh II, 46, who has an office on Belmont Ave. 200, and Terris C. Baker, 49, of Canton.
The defendants both requested the postponement of the trial, citing concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic and their lawyers' need for additional time to prepare for the trial.
The attorneys said a variety of pre-trial evidence needs to be examined, including tax returns, transcripts, audio phone calls, 1,490 pages of bank records, 373 pages of emails and 1,242 photos.
The defendants' attorneys "needed experts to improve their understanding of the tax documents," said Judge Benita Y. Pearson in her verdict this week.
Defense attorneys are also seeking technical staff to help prepare and present the case in court, the judge added.
She set a final pre-conference for 1:30 p.m. 9th March.
Rohrbaugh, who pleaded not guilty and is represented by lawyer Samuel Amendolara, remains free. Youngstown, 43-year-old Youngstown man Brandon R. Mace was originally charged on the case but listed as "named but not charged" in a recently superseded indictment.
Among other things, Rohrbaugh is accused of knowingly not having reported all of his earnings for 2015.
The government claims that from around January 2015 through around September 2015, the defendants conspired to file fraudulent federal income tax returns on behalf of various fictitious companies with the IRS for refunds. A government refund check totaled $ 1.35 million on behalf of a fictional company called Speed Werks LLC, the government said.
A recently superseded indictment lists seven fraudulent tax returns filed by Mace that have sought approximately $ 9 million in total in refunds.
Federal prosecutors allege Baker paid Rohrbaugh $ 150,000 in 2015 for legal work Rohrbaugh did related to the company.
runyan@tribtoday.com
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