September 4, 2009 11:26 AM

Wilson Sonsini Victim of $1 Million Office Supply Scam

Posted by Brian Baxter

Sibling publication The Recorder reports that a former staff member from Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and two other individuals were indicted for allegedly scamming the firm out of $1 million for office supplies.

According to a 17-page indictment filed by federal prosecutors in San Jose on Thursday, former firm purchasing specialist John Masakazu Tashiro conspired with two top level employees at San Francisco-based Attorneys Printing Supply, a company that provides printing services and supplies to law firms in Northern California.

Prosecutors claim that APS president Carlos Vargas, Sr., and accounting manager Daniel Dominguez billed Wilson Sonsini for dozens of orders for index tab dividers that were never delivered and then kicked back some of the proceeds to Tashiro.

A Wilson Sonsini spokeswoman declined The Recorder's request to discuss specifics of the case or to respond to a question about whether the firm alerted authorities to the alleged fraud.

While prosecutors claim the fraud is worth $1 million, Tashiro's take from the alleged tab divider caper doesn't appear to be anywhere near that amount. The Recorder notes he was paid at least $27,000.

The defendants have been charged with mail fraud and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. David Callaway, an assistant U.S. attorney in San Jose, is handling the case for the government. A hearing is scheduled for early October.

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