Dan LaMarch – Wisconsin Payroll Tax Fraud – The Consequences Have Just Begun!

Just the other day, I posted a blog about the fraud associated with Daniel D. LaMarch. Since then this has become one of the most read posts. I began to wonder why…then the e-mails began. People wanted to be heard as they had lost their job and, my words, “been screwed” as employees of LaMarch.

Here are two of the comments I received just today via e-mail:

Comment One:

The only comment I have to make is I am a former employee (as of 02/14/08). On Thursday, all of us employees were told our jobs were over and done with and to clean up our stuff and leave.

We were also told we were not getting paid from 02/01/08 thru 02/14/08. Dan told us to try to apply for unemployment since he had no money to pay us.

I’m sure it’s also going to be coming out that from April 2006 to the present, he would not pay us any overtime. He allowed us to work over 40 hours per week but would only pay us straight time. I don’t know about the other employees, but I know for myself I usually averaged approximately 110 – 115 hours every two weeks. I would get paid straight time, but I would not get paid time and a half for over 80 hours.

All I can say is I surely never saw this coming. I thought Dan was a very honest person and I still have a very hard time believing this is happening.

Comments Two: I also worked extra hours without getting paid the overtime wage. When I would ask for the overtime pay he said straight time would be better than unemployment, wouldn’t it?? And speaking of unemployment, once I calmed down a bit after being let go on Thursday 2/14/08, I called to file for unemployment and was told that my wages had not been reported since the 2nd quarter of 2007. So, it will be another 2 weeks of “processing” paperwork before I would be considered for unemployment. And seeing as we haven’t’ been paid since 1/31/08 it will be a good month before I will receive any compensation.

I would really like to know if all he did was really worth it?? Did he really think it wasn’t going to affect the lives of many, many people?????

Every choice has a consequence. As a business ethics and white collar crime speaker, (www.chuckgallagher.com) I see the effects of choices everyday. What often goes unnoticed is the effect that choices have on others. These two comments – from very real people – got a rude awakening on valentines day 2008. There was no love here. The consequences that are being felt are felt by people who are hurting from LaMarch’s choices and actions. Likely, they will produce in the victims – anger, hostility, sadness, panic, worry and who knows what else.

As we make choices daily, it is critical to consider the consequences that our choices will cause. Consequences don’t always mean “bad” – as I’ve experienced from positive choices extraordinarily positive results.

As for Daniel D. LaMarch, if convicted, he may well spend the rest of his life in prison. The thoughts of dying in prison have to be daunting and LaMarch is facing just that.

A federal grand jury handed down a 20 count indictment against LaMarch for failing to pay over to the Internal Revenue Service payroll taxes that had been withheld from the wages of the employees of Title Services of Green Bay during the period from January 2002 through December 2005. The indictment alleges that during this four-year period, LaMarch withheld from the wages of the employees of Title Services of Green Bay more than $500,000 in payroll taxes, but that he failed to pay those funds to the IRS, as required by federal law, or to file the quarterly payroll tax returns (Forms 941) that he was required to file reporting the wages, and payroll tax withholdings.

For the victims…during this time on emotional trauma, be careful of the choices you make. Choices founded out of anger and vengeance will not produce positive results. Make your choices wisely and focus on rebuilding. Remember positive choices do yield great outcomes.