Miami Businessman Pleads Guilty to $20 Million Tax Fraud Scheme

Dan Rotta, a Miami businessman, pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States by concealing over $20 million in assets in secret Swiss bank accounts from 1985 to 2020. He utilized a variety of deceptive tactics, including claiming Brazilian citizenship and using sham structures and a pseudonym, to evade taxes and fund a lavish lifestyle. Despite being under IRS investigation, Rotta submitted false documents and made misleading statements to hide his ownership of the accounts, which were held at major banks like UBS and Credit Suisse. In a bid to avoid penalties, he even attempted to enter the IRS’s voluntary disclosure program while continuing to misrepresent the nature of his assets. He faces a maximum of five years in prison and is scheduled for sentencing on June 4. Rotta's actions resulted in significant tax losses for the IRS as he enjoyed unreported income over decades.