Cook County man convicted for filing false tax returns, attempting to tamper with a witness

WILMETTE, Ill. - A federal jury convicted a 75-year-old attorney from Wilmette this week on charges of tax fraud, attempting to tamper with a witness and violating a court order.

After a week-long trial in federal court in Chicago, the jury found Michael Abramson guilty on all 15 counts.

Prosecutors presented evidence that Abramson, while working as an attorney in Chicago, filed false individual tax returns for himself and fraudulent corporate returns for Illinois-based Leasing Employment Services Co., Inc., a company in which he held an ownership interest.

The trial revealed that Abramson used over $1 million in company funds for personal expenses related to a romantic relationship.

These expenses, which included costs associated with a condo in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood, luxury cars and travel, were falsely claimed as business deductions, either as commissions or loans. 

Abramson also reported the fraudulent loans as assets on the company’s tax returns.

After being indicted, Abramson was ordered by the court not to contact any witnesses, including his bookkeeper, who was expected to testify at trial. 

Weeks before the trial’s original start date of Feb. 5, 2024, Abramson provided the bookkeeper with a copy of her prior court testimony annotated with handwritten notes, instructing her to change or script her answers in preparation for trial.

He also told her not to bring the notes to a meeting with law enforcement. However, the bookkeeper turned the scripted transcript over to authorities.

U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah scheduled Abramson’s sentencing for May 1.