Former Goodwill Official Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

Andrew Liersch, the former president of the Santa Clara County branch of Goodwill Industries, in California, has plead guilty to a charge of tax evasion to avoid being charged with helping to steal more than $20-million, reports the Associated Press.

In 2003, Mr. Liersch was arrested and indicted for a scheme in which, prosecutors said, he and several other people conspired to steal millions from the charity.

Mr. Liersch, who served as president of the branch for 17 years, was said to have kept $800,000 in overseas bank accounts. One Goodwill manager killed herself after she became part of the investigation.

The plea agreement, which dismisses the embezzlement charges, does not require prison time, but Mr. Liersch must pay $540,000 in restitution.