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Date: 01-10-2020

Case Style:

United States of America v. Thomas S. Fritzel

Case Number: 5:18-cr-40059-DDC

Judge: Daniel D. Crabtree

Court: United States District Court for the District of Kansas (Shawnee County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Richard L. Hathaway

Defendant's Attorney:


Call 918-582-6422 for free help finding a criminal defense lawyer in Topeka, Kansas.


Description: Topeka, KS - United States of America charged Thomas S. Fritzel with conspiracy to commit fraud.

A Kansas building contractor pleaded guilty to conspiring to deprive the city of Lawrence of sales tax revenues in connection with the development of a seven-story hotel adjacent to the University of Kansas campus.

Thomas S. Fritzel, 54, Lawrence, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of criminal conspiracy. Fritzel, part owner and manager of Oread Inn LC, was a party to an agreement with the city to finance the more than $40 million hotel project, including $11 million worth of street repairs and a public parking garage.

Oread Inn LC was to pay all costs up front and to be repaid $11 million for public improvements. The money to repay Oread Inn LC was to come from an incremental increase in property tax, a sales tax and an additional 1 percent tax on sales within a portion of the redevelopment district.

In his plea, Fritzel admitted that he and others caused false monthly Kansas sales tax returns to be submitted to the state of Kansas. The reports classified certain sales as occurring within the redevelopment district when in fact they occurred outside the district. As a result, the city of Lawrence lost a portion of sales taxes it was due.

The city of Lawrence filed a civil lawsuit against Fritzel seeking the lost revenue and the parties settled that case in 2017.

Sentencing in the criminal case is set for May 4. Both parties have agreed to recommend a sentence of 12 months and a day in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The FBI and the Lawrence Police Department investigated.


Charges:


18:371 - Conspiracy (INDICTMENT FILED 6/27/2018)
(1)
18:2314 and 2 - Transportation of proceeds of fraud (INDICTMENT FILED 6/27/2018)
(2)

Outcome: 01/09/2020 106 NOTICE OF RESET CHANGE OF PLEA HEARING. [NEW TIME] The defendant Thomas S. Fritzel previously notified the court of his intent to change plea re 102 Notice of Intent to Change Plea. The time from the original notice until the change of plea hearing is excludable time for speedy trial purposes. (This is a TEXT ENTRY ONLY. There is no.pdf document associated with this entry.) Change of Plea Hearing RESET for 1/9/2020 at 02:00 PM in Topeka Courtroom 403 before District Judge Daniel D. Crabtree. (mig) (Entered: 01/09/2020)
01/09/2020 109 MINUTE ENTRY for proceedings held before District Judge Daniel D. Crabtree: CHANGE OF PLEA HEARING as to Thomas S. Fritzel held on 1/9/2020. Sentencing set for 5/4/2020 at 01:30 PM in Topeka Courtroom 403 before District Judge Daniel D. Crabtree. Defendant remains on release. (Court Reporter Kim Greiner) (mig) Modified (mls) (Entered: 01/10/2020)
01/09/2020 111 PETITION TO ENTER PLEA OF GUILTY AND ORDER ENTERING PLEA as to defendant Thomas S. Fritzel (1) Count 1. Signed by District Judge Daniel D. Crabtree on 1/9/20. (msb) (Entered: 01/10/2020)
01/09/2020 112 PLEA AGREEMENT as to defendant Thomas S. Fritzel: Re 111 Petition and Order to Enter Plea of Guilty (msb) (Entered: 01/10/2020)

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