HARRISBURG, Pa. — A high profile former attorney is now being charged with tax evasion. Karl E. Rominger, 43, is accused of attempting to evade federal income taxes due and owing for the calendar years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, all years in which Rominger received taxable income. Rominger allegedly made false statements to agents of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) concerning the location of his business operating accounts, with the intent to evade and defeat the actions of the Internal Revenue Service.
Rominger is also charged with willful failure to file a federal income tax return for the calendar year 2012.
The government also filed a plea agreement with the defendant which is subject to the approval of the court.
The charges stem from an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph J. Terz.
Rominger is best known for being a member of Jerry Sandusky’s defense team. In 2014, he admitted to investigators that about $800,000 of clients’ funds were missing from accounts.
Court documents state he used the money for personal use and to gamble. An example of how Rominger operated: one of his client’s, a victim of an accident, received $500,000 as a settlement. But that client only received $65,000 from Rominger. Freed’s office discovered that Rominger stole about $535,000 from his clients altogether. Rominger’s attorney says his client has a gambling addiction.
