Shrout, Winston

[notorial dissent]

Depending on the seriousness and more importantly the court, passports are often demanded surrendered for the duration of the trial. I don't know if Winny is considered a flight risk or not, I personally consider him too stupid to ever think of it til it was too late, but that is irrelevant, it is the judge's decision.

[Jeffrey]

Jury Trial is set for 5/3/2016 at 09:00AM before Judge Robert E. Jones in Portland Courtroom 10A.

So we find out in May / Late May if he goes to jail?

[Gannibal]

Jury Trial is set for 5/3/2016 at 09:00AM before Judge Robert E. Jones in Portland Courtroom 10A.

So we find out in May / Late May if he goes to jail?

How often do these guys get non-custodial sentences?

[Famspear]

How often do these guys get non-custodial sentences?

According to one source, in recent years about 80% of all Federal tax convictions result in prison time.

[notorial dissent]

I can't think of a more deserving party to join the 80% club.

[jcolvin2]

The government filed a superseding indictment, including felony charges for presenting fictitious financial instruments:

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/oregon-m ... ax-returns

Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Oregon Man Charged with Using Fictitious Financial
Instruments and Failing to File Income Tax Returns

A federal grand jury sitting in Portland, Oregon, returned a superseding indictment yesterday afternoon charging a Hillsboro, Oregon man with 13 counts of making, presenting and transmitting fictitious financial instruments and six counts of willfully failing to file income tax returns, Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo of the Justice Department’s Tax Division announced.

According to the superseding indictment, beginning in or about February 2008 and continuing through at least June 2015, Winston Shrout knowingly devised and participated in a scheme to defraud financial institutions and the United States out of monies by making, presenting and transmitting fictitious financial instruments, which he variously called, among other things, “International Bills of Exchange” and “Non-Negotiable Bills of Exchange.” Shrout claimed that these fictitious financial instruments had monetary value when he knew they were in fact worthless. It is alleged that during the course of his scheme, Shrout produced and issued more than 300 fictitious financial instruments, purported to be worth more than $100 trillion, on his own behalf and for credit to third parties. The superseding indictment further alleges that Shrout promoted and marketed the use of fictitious financial instruments as a way to pay off debts, including federal income taxes, through seminars and private client consultations. Shrout is alleged to have sold recordings of his seminars, templates for fictitious financial instruments, and other materials through his website.

In addition, the superseding indictment alleges that Shrout received income for the years 2009 through 2014 from various sources, including presentations at seminars, licensing fees associated with the sale of products in his name and his business, Winston Shrout Solutions in Commerce, and annual pension payments. It is alleged that Shrout willfully failed to file income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for those years to report his income, despite being required to do so.

If convicted, Shrout faces a statutory maximum sentence of 25 years in prison on each count of making, presenting and transmitting a fictitious financial instrument and one year in prison for each count of willful failure to file income tax returns.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged in indictments are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Ciraolo thanked special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case, and Trial Attorneys Stuart A. Wexler and Ryan R. Raybould of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting the case.

Additional information about the Tax Division’s enforcement efforts can be found on the division’s website.

16-298

Link to Superseding Indictment:
https://www.justice.gov/opa/file/833016/download

[NYGman]

Obviously he has them right where he wants them, his "Sting Operation" to catch the government doing wrong, is going exactly to plan. Way to go Winston!

[Judge Roy Bean]

Any idea if Shrout has the resources to retain counsel?

[Jeffrey]

Well then, this pretty much guarantees Shrout will die in jail.

[jcolvin2]

Any idea if Shrout has the resources to retain counsel?

He may have the resources to hire counsel, but Shrout is proceeding pro se with a FPD present as "advisory counsel":

02/03/2016 12 Minutes of Proceedings: Arraignment Hearing held on 2/3/2016 before Judge Robert E. Jones for Defendant Winston Shrout regarding Winston Shrout (1) Count 1-6. Defendant advised of rights and charges. Record of Faretta hearing. Court finds that defendant is competent and that he knowingly and intelligently waived his right to representation of counsel. Defendant may proceed pro se with the Federal Defender present as advisory counsel. Not guilty plea entered. Order that Discovery is due in 14 days. Defendant was advised of trial rights. Defendant waived his speedy trial rights pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(A). Jury Trial is set for 5/3/2016 at 09:00AM before Judge Robert E. Jones in Portland Courtroom 10A. Defendant remains on pre-trial release pending jury trial. Counsel Present for Plaintiff: Stuart A. Wexler. Advisory Counsel Present for Defendant: Steve Sady for Ruben L. Iniguez. (Court Reporter Jill Jessup) (bp) (Entered: 02/03/2016)

BTW Shrout will be arraigned on the Superseding Indictment on March 31, 2016. Not sure if the trial date will hold.

[notorial dissent]

Oh, ouch, a thirteen count Federal felony indictment, that gonna hurt and leave scars.

He has been running his "Solutions in Commerce" scam for years now and has caused a lot of grief to various people by helping him. He's been living off people who couldn't afford it far too long as well as cheating the gov't it would seem. An equal opportunity sleaze.

At 25 years min. a pop he could be away for a really long time, like forever, and he's not all that young as I remember.

I don't think there is any question that Winny is sane or not aware of what he's doing. I don't think he's competent to tie his own shoe laces without detailed instructions, and him going pro se doesn't surprise me in the least. He thinks he is smarter and better at this than real attorneys, and that they won't be able to touch him. He is, among other things, a blowhard fool.

Couldn't happen to a nicer more deserving piece of slime too. I have been wondering how long it would take to get him off the street, guess now we'll see. Good times!!

[Dr. Caligari]

At 25 years min. a pop

25 years is the statutory maximum, not minimum. What will really determine his sentence is the Guidelines.

[notorial dissent]

Definitely mis-read that one, or maybe wishful thinking on my part. Still he could conceivably spend the rest of his worthless life in jail, I hope.

[Jeffrey]

Some news coverage:

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-north ... s_hil.html

http://jezebel.com/conspiracy-cruise-pr ... 1765464325

[ArthurWankspittle]

Definitely mis-read that one, or maybe wishful thinking on my part. Still he could conceivably spend the rest of his worthless life in jail, I hope.

The big thing will be if he is sentenced consecutive or concurrent.

[notorial dissent]

I'm kind of partial to consecutive myself.

[fortinbras]

Another article about Shrout, this from the Southern Poverty Law Center:

https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/201 ... indictment

[Lambkin]

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-north ... 100_t.html

Shrout, of Hillsboro, Thursday entered not guilty pleas to a 19-count federal indictment that accuses him of 13 counts of making, presenting and transmitting fictitious financial instruments and six counts of willfully failing to file income tax returns.

[Jeffrey]

His supporters seem to think he entered a guilty plea.

[wserra]

The minutes from yesterday's hearing:

Minutes of Proceedings: Arraignment and Faretta Hearing held before Judge Robert E. Jones as to Defendant Winston Shrout (1). Defendant advised of rights and charges, and waives reading of the Superseding Indictment. Defendant proceeds as named. The Court finds that defendant is competent and that he knowingly and intelligently waives his right to representation by counsel. Defendant may proceed Pro Se with Assistant Federal Public Defender Ruben L. Iniguez appointed as advisory counsel. The Court declares the case Complex. Not guilty plea(s) entered to Superseding Indictment. Defendant advised of trial rights. Defendant waives his speedy trial rights pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(A). ORDER - Final Pretrial Conference is set for 6/1/2016 at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Robert E. Jones in Portland Courtroom 10A. A 2-Week Jury Trial is set for 6/7/2016 at 09:00AM before Judge Robert E. Jones in Portland Courtroom 10A. The 5/3/2016 jury trial is STRICKEN. Defendant to remain on pre-trial release pending jury trial with added special release conditions as stated on the record. Counsel Present for Plaintiff: Stuart A. Wexler.Advisory Counsel Present for Defendant: Ruben L. Iniguez

Doesn't look much like a guilty plea.