Michael C. Cooper, Convicted in Tax Scam, Dies a Prisoner at 66

I.R.S. agents, postal inspectors and state authorities also found more than $8 million in cash and records of bank accounts holding millions more.

In late 2004, Mr. Cooper was arrested while crossing into the United States from Mexico at Laredo, Texas. His Topeka lawyer, Jerry Berger, said at the time that Mr. Cooper was unaware of a sealed 148-count federal indictment against him and his “Dream Team.” Mr. Cooper had been living in Puerto Vallarta with his wife, Mary Cooper, and two children, Mr. Berger said.

Eric Melgren, the United States attorney for the Kansas district at the time, said that Mr. Cooper and his confederates had been “selling something that was too good to be true,” and that it was just “bad advice, wrapped up in glossy packages and false promises.”

Mr. Cooper went to trial. Other members of his team pleaded guilty to money laundering, conspiring to defraud the federal government and other charges and were given much lighter sentences.

Mr. Cota was sentenced to two years in prison. His experience as a former I.R.S. executive had been central to Mr. Cooper’s marketing claim that the Renaissance system was endorsed by the I.R.S. Mr. Cota was paid more than $300,000. He was fined $250,000.

Among those who paid to join Renaissance/The Tax People was Marcy Szarama, the owner of a construction management firm in Southern California. She said a police officer had recommended the system as a legal way to reduce income taxes.

“The Tax People were encouraging you to start your own business, just so you could have a tax write-off, but there was no other real intention other than tax deductions,” Ms. Szarama said in a phone interview, adding that she had grown suspicious after joining because the tax-avoidance strategies seemed vague. She said she had lost about $4,000 and received no restitution.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/10/us/michael-c-cooper-dead.html