Date: June 12, 2026
Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov
Madison, WI – A Wausau man has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Madison to wire fraud and money laundering, according to Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin.
Stanley Pophal, Wausau, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty today to defrauding investors out of $14.25 million and using investor funds to fund his lifestyle.
”Today’s plea hearing makes one thing unmistakably clear: those who prey on hardworking people through deceit and greed will face decisive consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Elgersma. “The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to pursuing financial criminals wherever they hide, and we will never hesitate to bring the full weight of the justice system against anyone who abuses the public’s trust. I applaud the investigators for their hard work and commitment to holding Pophal…
Never share a One-Time PIN (OTP) with anyone over the phone, including people claiming to be bank officials, as legitimate employees will never ask for this code to “verify” your identity.
