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May 27, 2003
United States Attorney Kevin V. Ryan and IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent In Charge Victor Song, announced the unsealing of an indictment of Andrew Liersch, the former President of Goodwill Industries. A federal grand jury initially indicted Mr. Liersch on July 25, 2002, on four counts of violating Title 18 U.S.C. Section 1956(a)(1)(B)(i), based on his participation in a scheme to defraud Goodwill Industries of Santa Clara County and to transmit the proceeds of the fraud to overseas banks. A superseding indictment, also unsealed today, was returned November 14, 2002, with the same charges plus an additional count seeking criminal forfeiture of at least $804,602.94.
Andrew Liersch, 67, formerly of Pleasanton, was located in Antigua, Guatemala on May 22, 2003. On May 23, 2003, Mr. Liersch was expelled by the Guatemalan government and returned to the United States based on the outstanding arrest warrant issued by U.S. Magistrate Court Judge Wayne D. Brazil in Oakland, California.
Mr. Liersch was President of Goodwill Industries of Santa Clara County between 1976 and 1993. He also served on the Goodwill Board of Directors for approximately one year. According to the indictments, starting in 1979 and continuing to 1997, Mr. Liersch conspired with Carol Marrs, unindicted co-conspirator Faye Marcil and others to defraud Goodwill by selling items that had been donated to Goodwill, failing to report the sales, and converting the proceeds of these sales to their own personal use. Ms. Marrs who is now deceased had been the director of stores for the local Goodwill in Santa Clara. Mrs. Marcil was a manager of Goodwill stores in Santa Clara County.
The indictments also allege that Mr. Liersch wire transferred at least $804,602.94 between accounts in Switzerland and Vienna, Austria in 1997, in amounts of $193,564.56 and $611,038.38. The funds were allegedly wire transferred from Banque Union de Credit, Lugano, Switzerland to the Anglo Irish Bank, Vienna, Austria during July 29 and 30, 1997. Specifically, the superseding indictment alleges that all property involved in these offenses, or any property traceable to such property, derived from the proceeds obtained as a result of the alleged crimes, shall be forfeited to the United States.
Each count in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 1956(a)(1)(B)(i) is punishable by 20 years imprisonment and a fine of not more than $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater. However, any sentence following conviction would be dictated by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of factors, and would be imposed in the discretion of the Court. An indictment simply contains allegations against an individual and, as with all defendants, Mr. Liersch must be presumed innocent unless and until convicted.
These indictments are the result of a lengthy investigation by Special Agents of Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. AUSA Mark Zanides is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting the case with the assistance of legal technician Tom Moulder.
A copy of this press release may also be found on the U.S. Attorney's Office website at www.usdoj.gov/usao/can.
All press inquiries to the U.S. Attorney's Office should be directed to Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Jacobs at (415) 436-7181.
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