a bombshell search warrant affidavit obtained by The Daily Beast
“We have no comment,” Ciaran McEvoy, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles, where the investigation is taking place, said in an email on Friday. Pacheco, the source said, has already had his paychecks garnished for more than $700,000 and has more than enough equity in the multiple homes he owns to cover his debt completely.
“Since April 2016, Helfer made false statements to the IRS on behalf of Pacheco that included that he did not have access to Pacheco’s financial information, and that Pacheco was financially unable to pay his taxes,” the affidavit alleges. “For years, Helfer delayed the IRS’s collection efforts for Pacheco by promising returns and documents to the IRS.
In one example, Pacheco bid $2,045,000 on a piece of art at a Christie’s auction on May 8, 2016, wiring the money roughly six weeks after that, the affidavit states. Although it provides no further details about the work in question, a review ofOn May 11, 2016, the affidavit alleges, Pacheco purchased another piece from Christie’s, this time with a $1,150,000 winning bid, at an auction that
“The equity in the properties the IRS has liened over $10 million,” the source close to Pacheco told The Daily Beast. “At any time the IRS could have enforced the liens, forced a sale of the properties, and paid itself in full. They have never done this and could do it today if they wanted. As such, it doesn’t matter what Pacheco… does with the rest of money or assets.”to powerhouse writer/director/producer Kelly Noonan.
Soon after the IRS pushed forward with an intent to levy, the next step in the lien procedure, Pacheco moved more than $3 million from his personal accounts into ones controlled by Helfer, according to the affidavit. It claims Helfer then shifted much of the money back to one of Pacheco’s corporate accounts, which were not subject to the IRS levy, again frustrating the IRS’ attempts to collect, the affidavit says.
Helfer would continue running interference for Pacheco, telling the IRS over and over in 2016 that payment in full was on its way, according to the affidavit. The affidavit includes a slew of excuses Helfer floated for delay after delay, claiming, when an IRS representative inquired about why such a large balance remained due, that his cellphone was out of range and that he would call back when he got to the office.