Illinois Doctor's $1.6M Tax Evasion Lands 34-Month Sentence

An Illinois physician from Lake Forest, Dr. Krishnaswami Sriram, has been sentenced to 34 months in prison due to his involvement in a comprehensive scheme of health care fraud, asset concealment, and tax evasion orchestrated from 2011 to 2017. This complex ruse resulted in approximately $1.6 million in lost tax revenue for the U.S. government. The Department of Justice confirms that this is not Dr. Sriram's first encounter with allegations of fraudulent practices, with other documents pointing to past offenses.

Sriram employed several deceptive strategies to avoid fulfilling his tax responsibilities. One method included the fraudulent transfer of titles for two rental properties to his children, unbeknownst to them, while he continued to derive rental income. Such stratagems are classic techniques in the realm of concealed ownership and income.Image 2

In an attempt to further obscure his assets, Sriram moved an estimated $700,000 from U.S. banks to accounts and investments in India. This added an additional layer of complexity to his asset concealment efforts.

When he submitted an entity known as an "offer-in-compromise" to the IRS—a negotiation tool for settling a tax debt for less than the owed amount—Sriram was obligated to disclose his financial situation fully. However, he failed to disclose key details, including U.S. investment accounts, his international bank accounts, and the ownership of the rental properties, falsely portraying his financial incapability to meet his tax obligations.Image 1

The IRS suffered significant financial losses due to these fraudulent undertakings. The successful prosecution of Dr. Sriram emphasizes the critical importance of transparency in all financial disclosures, especially when negotiating for tax relief programs.

The nearly three-year prison term serves as a stark reminder of the magnitude of his misconduct and reflects the judicial system's stance against fraudulent behavior. Health care professionals, trusted stewards of public welfare, must maintain integrity. Breaches of trust coupled with financial deceptions undermine the system's very foundation.

This case illustrates the IRS's unwavering commitment, supplemented by its Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) initiatives, to eradicate fraud and enforce tax compliance. The ongoing pursuit and crackdowns on schemes ranging from Medicare fraud to tax evasion highlights the federal government's persistent efforts to preserve the integrity of both the health care system and tax code regulations.Image 3

Dr. Sriram’s case sends a resounding message: tax evaders will be held accountable. The penalties faced by Sriram serve to deter similar behaviors, reinforcing that unethical practices by professionals carry heavy consequences.

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