DOJ: San Diego Man Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

• Roper owed more than $6.7 million in federal income taxes and concealed assets by titling them in others' names.
• He spent $187,432.34 on a 2015 McLaren 650S Spider and $277,698.50 on a 2021 Aston Martin DBX instead of paying taxes.

Peter L. Roper, operating La Jolla-based businesses, marketed and sold purported federal tax credits across the United States but did not report nearly $19 million in income or pay over $6.7 million in taxes between 2010 and 2021. He concealed assets by titling them in others' names and used business accounts for personal expenses.

Roper pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for Jan. 8. The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by the National Fraud Enforcement Division and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California.

• $19 million unreported income
• $6.7 million federal income taxes owed
• $277,698.50 spent on 2021 Aston Martin DBX

• Review transactions involving La Jolla-based businesses marketing federal tax credits for unreported income or asset concealment.
• Scrutinize client asset titling practices for use of third-party names to hide ownership, as in the Roper case.
• Monitor high-value purchases such as luxury vehicles ($187,432.34 McLaren, $277,698.50 Aston Martin) for potential tax evasion red flags.

This case highlights the importance of monitoring for unreported income and asset concealment, especially when businesses market financial products like tax credits. Compliance officers should be alert to the use of business accounts for personal expenses and the titling of assets in others' names, as these are common methods to evade taxes and obscure beneficial ownership. The DOJ's focus on fraud enforcement underscores the need for robust AML/CFT controls to detect and report suspicious activities that may indicate tax evasion or related financial crimes.