South Carolina tax lawyer, John O’Connor, pleaded guilty today to a charge of money laundering in connection with his involvement in a conspiracy to liquidate and conceal money stolen by a former client. The former client, William Trier, embezzled approximately US$5 million over a ten year period from his employer by creating phoney invoices from two fictitious transportation companies and submitting them for payment. He used his position to approve the payment of the fraudulent invoices. When Trier learned he was under investigation, he contacted O’Connor to help him.
In 2008, Trier pleaded guilty to money laundering and mail fraud and was sentenced to 63 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of US$5.2 million.