Clovis syndicate dollars were used to pay for escorts and rent, DOJ says

published on June 10, 2022 – 13:50
Written by the staff of The Business Journal

A Fresno business owner has been indicted on tax evasion and Social Security charges.

According to a press release issued Friday by the United States Department of Justice, a federal grand jury has indicted Marcus Assay, 66, for making false tax returns and concealing a case with intent to fraudulently obtain social security disability benefits.

The most recent charges, according to court documents, allege that from 2016 to 2018, Asay reported very little taxable income, even though he knew his taxable income was over $50,000.

As president of the American Labor Alliance, a Clovis union founded by Asay in 2002, he organized the money to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal expenses, including more than $50,000 for dating sites. and escort and $120,000 rent for Asay. personal residences.

The American Labor Alliance is now permanently closed.

Asay also received Social Security disability benefits beginning in 2010.

Around 2015, he began working full time as president of the American Labor Alliance. From 2016 to 2019, Asay worked full time and hid the fact from the Social Security Administration, continuing to receive benefits.

Asay and a dependent were paid more than $90,000 by the Social Security Administration during that time.

If convicted of filing a false tax return, Asay faces a maximum legal sentence of three years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000 on each count.

A conviction for concealment and failure to disclose a matter related to Social Security benefits could result in Asay receiving a maximum legal sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

This is not the first time that Asay has been accused of fraud and money laundering.

He also faces fraud and money laundering charges in a separate case, USA v. Agricultural Contracting Services Association.

In the case, which is scheduled for trial in November, it is alleged that between March 2016 and March 2017, the American Labor Union, Asay and Antonio Gastelum of Fresno, provided workers’ compensation coverage to clients and issued liability certificates to customers that included the names of insurers and fake policy numbers.

The organization reportedly collected at least $2.8 million in workers’ compensation premiums. If convicted of these charges, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.