A 72-year-old Tyler man accused of helping run a massive tax fraud scheme will stay behind bars until his trial next year, a federal judge in Dallas has ruled.
Thomas Edward Weickgenant appeared Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Renee Harris Toliver at the Earle Cabell Federal Building and Courthouse in Dallas, federal court records show. The judge granted prosecutors’ request to keep him detained.
A Scheme Worth More Than $1.5 Billion
Weickgenant is one of three people named in a federal indictment. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the group promoted and sold a fraudulent trust scheme that was used to hide more than $1.5 billion in income from taxes.
Prosecutors estimate the scheme cost the government more than $200 million in lost tax revenue.
Why the Judge Denied His Release
In her order, Judge Toliver wrote that Weickgenant’s past shows a pattern of ignoring court orders and trying to obstruct justice.
She said she took his age and the long sentence he could face into account before making her decision. In the end, she still ruled that he should remain in custody.
Toliver also pointed out that the Eastern District of Texas, where the indictment was first filed, doesn’t have the same supervision tools available as the Northern District of Texas.
The Charges Against Him
Weickgenant faces the following charges:
- One count of conspiracy to defraud the United States
- Five counts of aiding in the preparation of false tax returns
- One count of corruptly interfering with the IRS
If he is convicted on every count, he could face up to 23 years in federal prison.
Trial Set for January
His jury trial is scheduled to begin on Jan. 11, 2027, before Chief U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor.