Youngstown area attorney convicted of participating in scheme to steal more than $1.3 million from IRS

Date: January 25, 2023

Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov

YOUNGSTOWN — A federal jury today found Robert J. Rohrbaugh, of Canfield, Ohio, guilty of engaging in a conspiracy to help two men illegally obtain more than $1.3 million from the IRS following a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge Benita Y. Pearson in Youngstown.

Rohrbaugh was convicted of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, aiding and abetting theft of government property, aiding and abetting false claims against the United States, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Rohrbaugh, a Youngstown-area attorney, assisted co-conspirators Brandon Mace and Terris Chanley Baker with obtaining a tax refund check for a fictitious business in the amount of $1,352,779.

Court documents state that in early 2015, Mace and Baker obtained a bogus tax refund check for a fictitious business by using fabricated tax forms and listing false taxes and expenditures that showed significant tax overpayments. After obtaining the refund check, Mace and Baker then contacted and worked with Rohrbaugh to deposit the check in accounts owned by the defendants.

During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Rohrbaugh assisted Mace and Baker with the scheme even though he was aware that the two had obtained the refund from an illegitimate business based on false tax returns.

According to court documents, after cashing the refund check, Mace and Baker attempted to launder the money by purchasing several high-end and luxury vehicles. In addition, evidence showed that Mace and Baker used $150,000 of the refund check to pay Rohrbaugh for his services.

Co-defendant Brandon Mace pleaded guilty in September 2020 to his role in the scheme, and co-defendant Terris Chanley Baker was convicted by a jury for his role in April 2022.

Rohrbaugh is scheduled to be sentenced on May 16, 2023.

This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation (CI). This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan R. Miller and Erica D. Barnhill.