Someone at the IRS Accidentally Brought Home Unsecured Data on 20,000 Fellow Employees
I mean it happens, right? I mix up my "work" and "totally not work and NSFW for that matter" thumb drives all the time. From BBW: The IRS is contacting the current and former employees involved, almost all of whom worked in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey. The information dates to 2007, before the IRS […]
2013 Elijah Watt Sells Award Winners Announced and Crikey There Are a Ton of Them
OK, this is just getting ridiculous. It used to be the 10 best CPA exam performers in the entire country and this year's list features FIFTY-FIVE individuals. Is this like in elementary school when everyone on the Little Kickers soccer team got a trophy even if they warmed the bench the entire season or, worse, […]
The Key To Improving America’s Infrastructure is Kidnapping Grover Norquist
I mean really, that's going to be the only way to get anything done in Washington, obvs. From the Washington Examiner (yeah yeah, I know): Without more money to fix America’s roads, ports and airports, “our backs are against the wall,” said former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, the Democratic Party leader from 1999-2001. “What alternative […]
Let’s Exchange Heated Words About: The Top 30 Accounting Undergrad Programs
This is the closest we'll get to a BCS ranking of accounting programs. Accounting Degree Review mashed together the lists of US News, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, and Public Accounting Report to come up with their own 30 Best Accounting Schools for Undergrads. I suppose we'll have to live with this until a playoff system is developed. […]
Accounting News Roundup: Night of the Living CPA; CBIZ Has New Biz; The Library Is Open! | 11.05.13
CBIZ acquires Denver accounting firm Knight Field Fabry [Denver Business Journal] Cleveland-based CBIZ Inc. (NYSE: CBZ) on Monday said it has acquired certain assets of Denver-based accounting firm Knight Field Fabry LLP. Formed by Sarah Knight in 2007, Knight Field Fabry provides traditional accounting, tax, litigation support and valuation services to small and mid-sized clients, […]
Accounting News Roundup: Terminating Deloitte ‘with a vengeance’; Grant Thornton’s 2017 Prediction; Big 4 Advisory Outguns Audit | 10.07.13
Mass. IT project is latest black eye for Deloitte [BG]From Florida and Pennsylvania to California, multimillion-dollar projects managed by the New York company have come in behind schedule, over budget, and riddled with problems. It is a situation that has been repeated in Massachusetts this summer; Deloitte was two years late and $6 million over […]
Accounting News Roundup: Countdown to Shutdown; Deloitte’s New Acquisition; Breaking Bad’s Taxes | 09.30.13
Government Heads Toward Shutdown [WSJ]The nation braced for a partial shutdown of the federal government, as time for Congress to pass a budget before a Monday midnight deadline grew perilously short and lawmakers gave no signs Sunday they were moving toward a resolution. Leaders of both parties said they wanted to avoid the first federal closure […]
Accounting News Roundup: Another Accountant Tied Up with Madoff; BKD’s Acquisition; Extended Deadlines for Colorado Flood Victims | 09.18.13
Accountant Is Probed in Madoff-Related Case [WSJ]Federal law-enforcement officials are investigating whether accountant Paul Konigsberg played a role in the massive Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme, people close to the probe said. Mr. Konigsberg, a partner at accounting firm Konigsberg Wolf & Co., had been accused in lawsuits by victims of funneling money to Mr. Madoff. Mr. […]
Footnotes: ‘Boss, Meet the Parents’; Ways and Means Not Done with IRS; The (Late) Summertime (Tax Season) Blues | 09.11.13
Mini Circuits is looking for a Cost Accounting Manager in New York City. [GCJ] SEC’s Enforcement Unit Changes Tack [CFOJ] Supply and demand for accounting talent at record levels [JofA] Should You Bring Mom and Dad to the Office? Some PwC offices host receptions for parents of interns. [WSJ] Woman Distracted by Texting Drives Her Car […]
Accounting News Roundup: Grant Thornton Cool with New Auditor Report, Still Worried About Getting Sued; KPMG Losing Standard Chartered?; Trimming Tax-Exempt Orgs | 08.23.13
Grant Thornton CEO on Proposal for a New Kind Of Auditor’s Report [CFOJ]“The audit report hasn’t been changed in substance in 70 years and if this is what investors want then we need to meet the needs of investors,” said Ed Nusbaum, whose firm is one of the six largest global accounting networks. […] “There are […]
Accounting News Roundup: Tax Lobby Taking No Chances; First Lady of Tax Fraud Regretting Life Choices; IRS Loves the ‘Against My Religion’ Excuse | 07.18.13
Comptroller Candidate Spitzer Reveals Taxes [WSJ]New York City comptroller candidate Eliot Spitzer released on Wednesday the top two pages of his federal tax return for the past two years in the wake of fierce criticism from rival Scott Stringer who accused him of hypocrisy for declining to make public his full tax returns. Mr. Stringer's campaign described […]
Those Twelve ParenteBeard Partners That Quit to Join BDO Took Some of Their Friends Along
This is quite the impressive move by Bravo Delta Oscar. The firm issued this press release earlier today: BDO USA, LLP, one of the nation’s leading professional service organizations, today announced an expansion of its financial institutions practice through the addition of 12 partners and as many as 97 employees formerly with the banking practice […]
Lapping Schemes Are For Stupid People and Dogs with Access to Lidless Toilets
Any licensed CPA caught perpetrating a lapping scheme should have his or her license revoked immediately and permanently — not for committing an act discreditable to the profession, but for being a giant dumbass. There so many types of fraud that are way easier than lapping. No. Wait. Every type of fraud is way easier […]
Those Walking Workstations Aren’t Collecting Dust at Just Big PwC Offices
Nope! They're good enough for central Pennsylvania, too. The Harrisburg office only has about 60 people, but they are pulling up the stakes at Market Street, and getting brand new 6,300 square-foot home. The office will include media sharing technologies embedded in collaborative areas, as well as an interactive cafe and walk station to encourage […]
Accounting News Roundup: Apple’s Irish Star; Lots of Support for Special Prosecutor in IRS Scandal; Virginia’s Sheep Tax | 05.30.13
The US/China audit deal: will it work? [FT]Signing the MOU (which can be terminated by either party on a mere 30 days’ written notice) is a clever and diplomatic way to separate the wheat from the chaff. Those Chinese companies with truly nothing to hide will be the ones that remain publicly listed on US […]
Accounting News Roundup: KPMG Shares Settlement in Fannie Mae Lawsuit; Rand Paul Going After FATCA; TAXSTUD | 05.08.13
Investors Get a Settlement by Fannie Mae [NYT]Fannie Mae, the government-sponsored mortgage finance company, and KPMG, its former auditor, have agreed to pay $153 million to investors who bought Fannie’s stock from 2001 to 2004, a period when Fannie’s regulator determined the firm had overstated its income and violated generally accepted accounting principles. […] The settlement stemmed […]
Depending On How This Gay Court Stuff Goes, Ernst & Young Might Have a Little Extra Pocket Change
According to this recent HuffPo article, a favorable DOMA decision might save a few bucks for big employers like Ernst & Young: After her partner gave birth to triplets in 1998, Chris Crespo began paying closer attention to the employee benefits offered by her company, major accounting firm Ernst & Young. "I wanted to make […]
Accounting News Roundup: DOMA Decision Could End Grossing Up; IRS Loses Another Appeal; Bigger Is Better in Iowa | 03.28.13
DOMA's Elimination Could Benefit Ernst & Young, Google, Facebook By Ending 'Grossing Up' [HP]After her partner gave birth to triplets in 1998, Chris Crespo began paying closer attention to the employee benefits offered by her company, major accounting firm Ernst & Young. "I wanted to make sure that there was coverage for my children," said Crespo, […]
ANR: More Big Accounting Trouble in Big China; Don’t Forget to Report That Stolen Income; Fiscal Cliff Effects on Nonprofits | 01.11.13
Big China Short Shows Downside of Kleptocracy [Bloomberg]Jon Weil shares the story of Hong Kong-listed Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., China's second-largest make of construction equipment, showing that not all Chinese accounting scandals are in the west. Daqing Dairy chairman and finance chief resign over Deloitte's misgivings [SCMP]Daqing Dairy's chairman Zhao Yu and […]
The Ten Best CPA Exam Freakouts Of 2012
My esteemed (?) colleague has been having fun with slideshows since TPTB told us "go ahead and take it easy for the holidays, your loyal readership aren't at work anyway," now it's my turn. This has been a pretty uneventful year in CPA exam world. Well, unless you count a pile-up in Audit exams we'll […]
Accounting News Roundup: The Year of Perpetual Crisis; HP’s Autonomy Issues Are the Gift That Keeps on Giving; Tax Planning by Death | 12.28.12
Obama, Lawmakers Set for Fiscal-Cliff Meeting [WSJ]Congressional leaders and the White House prepared for a Friday afternoon meeting, a last-ditch negotiation that could signal whether Washington is able to avert the tax increases and spending cuts known as the fiscal cliff. "This afternoon's meeting, I think, is a first chance to put the four leaders in […]
NJ Committeewoman Accused Of Lying About Her “Inactive” CPA License
I have seen many, many CPA exam candidates add "CPA" to their email signatures and social media profiles immediately after passing their 4th part over the years, and most of us know why this is not a smart idea. Sure, you're really excited to have passed and figure you're just a few years' of experience […]
Footnotes: GOP No Likey Tax Report; FASB Extension; That Tricky Mortgage Deduction Limitation | 11.01.12
Nonpartisan Tax Report Withdrawn After G.O.P. Protest [NYT] Ex-FASB Chair: Accounting Rules Support Money Funds’ Stable Value [CFOJ] Should gas prices be soaring? [Felix Salmon] In Wake of Sandy, FASB Extends Comment Period; Announces Webcast [AT] A Disappointing Presidential Campaign Comes to an End How do both men get away with dodging these critical fiscal […]
Frankenstorm Updates: Accounting Firm Closures and One Guy’s CPA Exam Is Cancelled
As you may have heard, there’s a bit of a storm brewing on the east coast. Everything is more or less closed but if your firm is of the general opinion that the heavy stuff won’t be coming down for quite a while and there’s no reason you shouldn’t be at the office until the lights go out, please let us know (and some pictures might be nice).
Accounting News Roundup: Hi, Sandy; Another Romney Tax Shelter; College Football-Ticket Tax Break | 10.29.12
To our readers on the East Coast – Be safe! Keep us updated with the communication from your firm and send us any pictures as Sandy starts to make herself at home. Email us at [email protected] Storm Gains Strength as It Churns North [NYT (Paywall suspended)]Hurricane Sandy grew stronger before dawn on Monday as it churned […]
What Accounting Program Would Jesus Do?
Are you the parent of a future accounting student looking for guidance as you sort through hundreds of brochures in the search for the perfect accounting program for your future CPA? You probably shouldn't email us, we're a bad influence. But if you still want to, go ahead and get in touch and we'll try […]
Footnotes: Neil Barofsky on Auditors, Tax Credits in Chart Form, IRS Keeps ‘Em Honest | 09.12.12
Neil Barofsky On Bailouts, TARP, and Whether It Was All Worth It “The auditors have proven themselves to me, over and over again, to be more concerned about the steady stream of fees than in doing their job.” [Forbes] SEC whistleblower program stricter than IRS bounty which paid $104 million to felon, former official says [Reuters] […]
ANR: KPMG’s 2011 PCAOB Inspection; Private Co. CFOs Keep Numbers To Themselves; Study: Tax Breaks for Organ Donors Don’t Work | 08.31.12
KPMG 2011 Inspection Report: No Change from 2010 [CW]In its first published report from the 2011 inspection cycle, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board found fault with a dozen KPMG audits, the same number it criticized the year before. The board inspected 52 audits performed by KPMG, plus an additional audit where the firm contributed to […]
ANR: IFRSomeday; Japan Regulator Knocks KPMG, E&Y Over Olympus; Accountant Sues for Infernal Work Environment | 07.06.12
Jobs Data Indicate Slowing Growth [WSJ]Nonfarm payrolls grew by 80,000 last month, the Labor Department said Friday. The politically important unemployment rate, obtained by a separate survey of U.S. households, was unchanged at 8.2%. Delay Seen (Again) For New Rules on Accounting [WSJ]After weighing the issue for nearly 2½ years, the Securities and Exchange Commission's […]
Accounting News Roundup: MLPs for the Greenies; Obama Holds on Tax Cuts While Clinton Backtracks; The Next Hot IPO | 06.07.12
Tweaking tax code could spur green energy: senator [Reuters]Chris Coons will introduce legislation on Thursday that would allow a broad range of renewable power generation and transmission projects to qualify for a tax structure used widely by pipeline and other energy-related companies. The bill is unlikely to be considered until after the November presidential election, but […]
A Warning to CPA Exam Candidates Trying to Sit In States Other Than Their Own
This is simply my perception and sadly I don't have actual numbers to back it up so you'll have to forgive me but it seems like in recent years, CPA exam candidates have been having a difficult time transferring scores between states. Back in my CPA review days, I would tell candidates that it's easier […]
Here Are a Few Ridiculous Things Deloitte’s Punit Renjen Said in a Recent Interview
In the past, we've called attention to some of the brutally boring interviews that Deloitte bigwigs have done with various outlets. Joe Echevarria. Barry Salzberg. Deb DeHaas. We read these so you didn't have to. You're welcome. Today, however, we read an interview with Deloitte Chairman Punit Renjen that wasn't half bad. It was done […]
Accounting News Roundup: Are You Ready for Taxmaggedon?; Accounting Beats Psych; Brown Readies California’s Belt | 05.15.12
John Snow: 'Taxmaggedon' Is a Real Threat [WSJ][W]e face that real prospect, as prominent proposals by the administration would triple the top dividend tax rate to nearly 45%, while doubling the top rate on capital gains to 30%. If one intended to cripple job creation, depress stock prices, and lower the value of retirement savings […]
Somehow, They Figured Out 2011 Elijah Watt Sells Winners Already
Wait just one second… didn't they just announce the Elijah Watt Sells Award winners for 2010? I guess the AICPA wasn't kidding when they said the 2011 exam would be graded faster than ever. Somehow, we've got 2011 Elijah Watt Sells winners in record time. Here they are for your shaming. Of 90,000 candidates who took the […]
Accounting News Roundup: Buffett’s ‘Sacrifice’; Groupon’s Slump; PwC’s German, Dutch Firms Merging | 05.07.12
Buffett Defends His Tax View [WSJ]The meeting was Berkshire's first since Mr. Buffett made headlines by saying those earning more than $1 million a year should pay a tax rate of at least 30%. One questioner asked whether a CEO should keep his political views "muted," prompting Mr. Buffett to respond that he has a duty […]
Accounting News Roundup: In Defense of Apple’s Tax ‘Sidestepping’; COSO Postpones Framework Release; More Tax Dodginess in Florida | 05.02.12
Apple Sidesteps Taxes – What’s Wrong With That? [Chris Bergin/TC]We are currently having a debate in this country about fairness and our tax systems. That’s a good debate to have because our tax systems at the state and federal levels are all almost consistently unfair. But I worry about that debate as well. Insinuating that […]
Congressional Members Seem to Have Their Orders Re: Auditor Rotation
You may remember that last Wednesday I put my grown-up clothes on and attended the PCAOB's open meeting on auditor rotation. It was a good discussion (relatively speaking) and I got chat with some pretty smart people. I can't work a room of old white men like Adrienne (few can), but Chairman James Doty seemed […]
Bloomberg/BusinessWeek’s Top Undergrad Business Schools of 2012 List Doesn’t Do the Top CPA Exam School Justice
Not to burst Wake Forest's bubble but Bloomberg/BusinessWeek just gave them 19th in their list of top undergrad business schools in America for 2012. (Notre Dame was #1) That's really sad but it doesn't change the fact they dominate on the CPA exam. Just for shits and giggles, let's see how Bloomberg's top 5 undergrad […]
The CPA Exam Stats You’ve Been Waiting For: The Best-Performing Accounting Programs of 2011
Because the 2011 NASBA Candidate Performance book is a significant improvement over previous versions, we've got some new data to share and it's pretty exciting. Now, the following stats cover first-time exams across all programs (we'll explain program size in a moment). SHOCK, Wake Forest is #1 yet again. The actual shocking part here is […]
ANR: More Chinese Auditor Resignations Coming?; Four More Years for PwC UK Chairman; Ex-CIMA President Sneers at CGMA | 03.16.12
Deloitte's Boshiwa exit a precursor to more China auditor resignations [Reuters]Deloitte's resignation as auditor of a Hong Kong-listed childrenswear company this week could be the first in a run of accountant departures from Chinese companies in the coming weeks as the audit season draws to an end. Last year's spate of accounting scandals at U.S.-listed Chinese […]
Let’s *Try* to Have a Civil Discussion About Accounting Program Rankings
Every year, U.S. News & World Report bestows their storied list of best Colleges and Universities. It's a great opportunity to show school pride (unless you're a Penn State alum) or to make snide remarks because you went to a TTT and are mad with envy. Because we know that discussing loaded rankings such as […]
ANR: IASB to Address ‘Disclosure Overload’; Women Widen Jobs Lead in Accounting; PCAOB Reopens Comment Period on Auditor Rotation | 03.08.12
Strong solar storm heading for Earth [Reuters]A strong geomagnetic storm is racing from the Sun toward Earth, and its expected arrival on Thursday could affect power grids, airplane routes and space-based satellite navigation systems, U.S. space weather experts said. The storm, a big cloud of charged particles flung from the Sun at about 4.5 million miles […]
This Guy Thinks Your Degree Is Useless As Long As You Got a High Score on the CPA Exam
In a recent article titled "The Dark Side of a Divided White America," The Fiscal Times chatted with Charles Murray, W. H. Brady Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and the author of books that include Losing Ground and What It Means to Be a Libertarian. Murray apparently upset a few folks with his earlier […]
Rick Santorum Actually Believes That People Care About His Tax Returns
Ha! President of frozen-over hell, Rick Santorum told everyone that he had to get back to Pennsylvania, apparently, to get his tax returns thrown together. Rick Santorum will follow Mitt Romney’s lead and unveil his tax returns, telling reporters Wednesday that he would head home over the weekend to gather and prepare his tax documents […]
How Do The U.S. News Top Accounting Rankings Compare on CPA Exam Scores?
I'm sorry if you guys are sick of these stats but someone suggested we hit these rankings and last time I dared to write about something other than CPA exam scores, I was essentially laughed right off the Internet. Thanks for supporting my dreams, people, that'll teach me to try to get you all excited […]
Accounting News Roundup: Rick Santorum Fever!; BDO’s NYC Acquisition; Overstock Layoffs | 01.05.12
Rick Santorum's tax plan [CNN]The former conservative senator from Pennsylvania would reduce the number of income tax brackets from six to two (10% and 28%) and triple what his campaign identifies as the personal deduction that parents can claim for their children. Santorum would also eliminate the so-called marriage penalty, which often causes two-earner couples to […]
Accounting News Roundup: More Tax Dodgy Swiss Bankers; The IRS *Will* Take Their Cut of Darryl Strawberry’s Money; Grover Norquist – Tax Person of 2011 | 01.04.12
Romney Ekes Past Santorum to Win Iowa [WSJ]Mitt Romney pulled out a razor-thin victory by just eight votes in the Iowa caucuses, edging out Rick Santorum and opening the Republican primary season with a dose of momentum going into a New Hampshire primary he is heavily favored to win. Mr. Santorum's performance was in some ways more […]
Here Are a Bunch of Opportunities for Accounting Students to Get Free Money
Alright so it isn't hundreds of thousands of dollars but if you're trying to scrape together a few bucks for school, try this super handy list via This Way to CPA. Just some examples of the scholarships listed: Accounting students in Pennsylvania can snag up to $15,000 from the Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs; New Jersey […]
The Greatest Farewell Email We’ve Seen…EVER
Subject: And When I Leave Come Together Like Butt Cheeks
You can figure out where this is going to go based on that alone, I’m sure.
Predictably, this email has been making the rounds since it was sent. If the OP was shocked it went viral in public accounting inboxes up until this point, wait until he sees it here. Names have been changed to protect the innocent, including the OP, who isn’t innocent at all but still deserves that. I think.
Hey Motherfuckers!
Guess who just got the fuck outta Dodge?! This guy! How many people had Craig Douchenozzlestein lasting until August 4, 2011 in the YMP pool?
But seriously, it is NOT easy to get out of these contracts. Im pretty sure it would have been easier to escape from Auschwitz th knew from the second week I start here that this wasn’t going to work out. I mean, working past 7pm cuts significantly into my drinking and foundling women time. So therefore, since October 28, 2008 when I was forced to work until 10pm on my fucking 23rd birthday, these wheels have been in motion.
I feel like it is probably appropriate to go over what got me to this point of release, in case anyone wants to take a similar approach and not have to pay back any tuition money and get a severance package.
The first breaking point for EY was during my staff 2 year when I lost an inventory count and the bitch of a senior manager WOULD NOT stop hassling me about it. Dude, I told you I lost it. No matter how many emails or sametimes you sent me, that sheet isn’t coming back. Get over it. Rose cried less when the Titanic sank. Needless to say, he personally wrote my review. Didn’t go over too well during roundtables.
The next “occurrence” happened in February 2009 during busy season. It was a Friday night and I was newly broken up with [the girlfriend] for the 24th time. That Saturday I had to work on [rando client] in the office because we just received their 10K. However, this was a minor inconvenience because 2 buddies from college were in town and I had a kitchen full of liquor waiting for them. During that night at the bars, I hit it off with one of the girls in our party and, as any guy knows, the first lay after a break up is as necessary as oxygen. So we leave to go back to my apartment only to realize I had given my buddy from college my keys so he could get in later. In a crime of passion and lack of forethought, I punched through our glass window to get into the lobby, only to realize the door to my apartment was still locked. Not letting this stop my teenage sex drive, we hopped a 30 minute cab to her place. The next morning I awoke at 11am realizing I should have been at work 2 hours ago. By the time I got to work it was 1pm, I reeked of booze and was bleeding all over the place because of my hand. AND I had forgotten my badge so called the senior manager to come let me in who greeted me with a “what the hell happened to you?” I also found out I had texted my senior the prior night while in the cab saying “Getting laid in West Randombury, Ill be at work ASAP” at 3am. Needless to say, my year end review mentioned something about “unprofessional” and “this is a career, not some part time job”
Those 2 situations resulted in me being held back for my staff 2 year. After that, there was not much anyone could do that would prevent me from doing what I wanted to do. I worked from home, ignored deadlines, and pretty much didn’t give a shit. I even made up some bullshit excuse that I was stuck travelling back from the Kentucky Derby in Pennsylvania during a 3/31 year-end just so I could catch up on the DVR I missed while away for the weekend.
The final straw that broke Camel Craig’s back resulted from a year-end job at the beginning of January. The Manager was a complete bitch and I spent most of my day exchanging texts with a girl I had met the prior weekend at the bar. She did not take kindly to this. But the breaking point for her was definitely when I didn’t show up til 2pm on that Friday because it was my roommates birthday the night before. Everyone knows Roommates birthday=Your Birthday, right?!?! That’s another thing that gets me about this place, everyone is so caught up in work they forget about enjoying life. Shit, life is so short (especially if you are a raging alcoholic) and is way too short to spend stressing over excel sheets all damn day. Every once in a while enjoy it! Take a sick day to go to the beach. Get hammered on your roommates birthday and come in late, have unprotected se…. well, maybe not too much enjoyment. But you get the message!
But I digress, I truly enjoyed my summers with you guys and the shit we got away with. I hope I was able to have a positive effect on your lives in some way, even if it was just “damn, at least Im not as bad as Craig . Did you see him lick the Backer pole last night?!” I hope you all keep in touch and wish you the best down the road.
If you guys are ever in the Random City area, Im always down to meet up. Just no rioting like we did when Joey and Dan were here.
One Love,
Craig
Good luck to you in your future endeavors, “Craig,” you’ll need it.
Please note, we’re pretty sure this guy is a one-off and not at all reflective of the overall quality of his colleagues. Therefore let’s reserve any judgments for Craig and Craig alone. Judge away, my darlings.
Former BDO Partner Gets Probation For Cheating on His Taxes
Poor BDO, they never get in the news. But hey, they do today!
Former BDO partner George Mark got off easy this week when U.S. District Judge Nora Barry Fischer said he didn’t deserve to go to jail thanks to his “extraordinary” charitable efforts and remorse for his actions. Mark’s tax evasion was uncovered during an investigation into Pennsylvania beverage company Le-Nature’s, who apparently specialized in nepotism, ass water and fraud.
Mark will instead serve two years of probation and pay a fine of $30,000.
A federal jury recently found Le-Nature’s former president Robert B. Lynn guilty of 10 counts of bank fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy. The jury found him not guilty on 10 additional fraud counts and deadlocked on five others, which left Senior U.S. District Judge Alan Bloch Jr. no other choice than to declare a mistrial on the remaining charges. The company’s CEO Gregory Podlucky and other company officers are facing prison for their part of a $37 million fraud.
While investigating Le-Nature’s ugly mess, the IRS found out that Mark declared fake travel expenses on his 2004, 2005 and 2006 tax returns for about $90,000. The IRS determined that Mark was living the gangsta lifestyle out in the Philly ‘burbs, rented an apartment in NYC, traveled a lot and owned a few luxury cars.
The U.S. attorney’s office had hoped the judge would come down with jail time in order to convince would-be tax cheats that this is serious business but the judge felt Mark’s volunteer efforts for Hope International and other charities was sufficient proof that he wasn’t all that bad of a guy, perhaps just a little misguided.
Back in 2008, 74 investors alleged fraud and negligent misrepresentation against Wachovia Capital Markets, Wachovia Securities and two accounting firms, Ernst & Young and BDO Seidman for their respective parts in the Le-Nature’s scam, in which company officers (mostly CEO Podlucky and his kin) would secure loans for business equipment only to turn around and use that money for things like, oh, sapphires and overpriced watches.
E&Y audited Le-Nature’s until BDO took over. “E&Y was aware that Podlucky could single-handedly influence or manipulate the company’s financial results …” charged the lawsuit. The company basically made up $240 million in revenue and BDO auditors declared the company’s financials were free of material misstatements. FAIL.
Anyway, congratulations to the former partner for, uh, being such a model human being. Or something.
(UPDATE 2) Bucknell Accounting Student Accused of Being Serial Flasher
Earlier today I was tipped to this story about a man accused of being a serial flasher in central Pennsylvania. Last week WHTM reported that Jay Patrick Knaub, a “straight-A student at Bucknell University” was accused of “20 counts including unlawful contact with minors, indecent exposure, and open lewdness.”