Roanoke Business Owner Pleads Guilty
Roland “Spanky” Macher Admits to Bankruptcy Fraud, Food Stamp Fraud, Tax Evasion

ROANOKE, VA—The former owner of several regional restaurants and other local businesses pled guilty this afternoon in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Roanoke to a variety of fraud charges.

Roland “Spanky” Macher, of Roanoke, pled guilty this afternoon to one count of bankruptcy fraud, one count of willfully evading his taxes and one count of food stamp fraud. At sentencing, the defendant faces a maximum possible penalty of up to five years for both the tax evasion and bankruptcy fraud charges and up to 20 years for the food stamp fraud charge.

“For years, Spanky Macher deceived his creditors, the bankruptcy court and the American taxpayers in an attempt to evade responsibility for his actions,” United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said today. “When individuals like Mr. Macher lie to courts of law, illegally obtain federal benefits, and avoid paying their share of tax, we will vigorously respond. This case demonstrates this office’s commitment to prosecuting all types of financial fraud.”

Today in District Court, Macher admitted that he misrepresented and concealed material facts both in documents and in testimony regarding his Chapter 11 bankruptcy which was filed in November of 2000, and discharged in August of 2005. Specifically, the defendant failed to get approve or disclose the fact that on September 23, 2002, he deeded three rental properties he owned, generating over $135,000 in proceeds. Macher also admitted that he failed to get approval or disclose that in June 2002, he bought two condominiums in Woodlake Village in Hilton Head Island.

The defendant also admitted that on July 27, 2009, he submitted an application for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) with the Roanoke Department of Social Services. He requested benefits for himself and his three children, ages 20, 18 and 14, claiming all three children were members of his household. Macher failed to disclose that his two older children were attending an out of town college. He also reported his monthly income to be $1,000, but failed to disclose his association with Macher Properties or disclose the existence of several bank accounts used to pay his personal expenses.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Roanoke Department of Social Services. Assistant United States Attorney C. Patrick Hogeboom III and Francine Davis of the Tax Division of the Department of Justice are prosecuting the case for the United States.