Thomas Forster Gehrmann Jr

Key Points

• Identity: Thomas Forster Gehrmann Jr. is a chiropractor based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, associated with Atlas Chiropractic Center at Briargate, Inc. and SpineMed Decompression Centers of Colorado, LLC.

• Legal Issues: Convicted in 2019 for conspiracy to defraud the United States and filing false income tax returns, sentenced to 24 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release.

• Allegations: Engaged in a tax fraud scheme from 2007 to 2011, hiding cash and check payments from his businesses’ financial records to evade taxes.

• Customer Feedback: No direct customer reviews are available in the provided sources, limiting insight into his professional reputation.

• Risks: Significant legal and reputational risks due to felony convictions, potential financial risks for clients or partners, and operational risks for associated businesses.

• Cautionary Note: Gehrmann’s criminal history and lack of public feedback raise serious concerns for anyone considering professional or business engagement.

Overview

Thomas Forster Gehrmann Jr., aged approximately 51 as of 2025, is a chiropractor from Colorado Springs, Colorado. He operated through Atlas Chiropractic Center at Briargate, Inc. and SpineMed Decompression Centers of Colorado, LLC (collectively, the “Atlas Entities”), which provided chiropractic and spine-adjustment services. Gehrmann managed shared resources for these entities, including employees, bank accounts, and financial professionals. His professional activities were overshadowed by a 2019 federal conviction for tax fraud, stemming from a scheme to conceal income from the IRS between 2007 and 2011. There is no indication he is currently practicing, and his professional status post-conviction is unclear.

Allegations and Concerns

Serious allegations and legal findings are associated with Gehrmann, based on court records and news reports:

• Tax Fraud and Conspiracy: Gehrmann was indicted in 2015 and convicted in 2018 for conspiracy to defraud the United States and filing three false income tax returns. From 2007 to 2011, he allegedly hid cash and checks paid to him personally by patients, storing them in a “cookie jar” and dividing them weekly with two other chiropractors. These funds were not reported to the Atlas Entities’ bookkeeper or CPA, resulting in false tax filings.

• Secret Records: Gehrmann maintained a book titled “Secret Records” to track the division of unreported cash payments, indicating deliberate intent to evade taxes.

• No Additional Complaints: Beyond the tax fraud case, no specific client complaints, malpractice allegations, or other lawsuits are noted in available sources. However, the severity of the federal conviction is a major red flag for professional trustworthiness.

These allegations, confirmed by a federal conviction, indicate significant ethical and legal lapses in Gehrmann’s business practices.

Customer Feedback

No direct customer feedback is available in the provided sources:

• Positive Feedback: There are no public reviews or testimonials praising Gehrmann’s chiropractic services on platforms like Yelp, Google Reviews, or health-specific sites.

• Negative Feedback: Similarly, no negative reviews or client complaints are cited, which may reflect a low public profile or limited online presence rather than an absence of issues.

The lack of customer feedback limits insight into Gehrmann’s professional performance or client satisfaction. This could be due to the niche nature of chiropractic services or a deliberate effort to maintain a low profile following his conviction.

Risk Considerations

• Legal Risks:

  • Gehrmann’s felony convictions expose him to ongoing legal scrutiny, including potential restrictions on professional licensing or business operations.

  • Future legal risks include civil lawsuits from clients or partners if his past misconduct affected their financial interests.

• Reputational Risks:

  • The public record of his tax fraud conviction severely damages Gehrmann’s credibility, likely deterring clients and business partners who value ethical conduct.

  • Association with the Atlas Entities could harm the reputation of other professionals or businesses linked to these practices.

• Financial Risks:

  • Clients or partners engaging with Gehrmann face risks of financial loss if his services or business practices are unreliable, particularly given his history of financial misconduct.

  • Gehrmann himself may face financial penalties, such as restitution (a hearing was scheduled for May 2019), which could impact his ability to fulfill professional obligations.

• Operational Risks:

  • The Atlas Entities’ operations may have been disrupted by Gehrmann’s conviction, affecting employees, partners, or clients reliant on these businesses.

  • Dependence on shared resources (e.g., bookkeepers, CPAs) without proper oversight, as evidenced by the fraud scheme, suggests operational vulnerabilities.

Business Relations and Associations

• Business Entities: Gehrmann jointly managed Atlas Chiropractic Center at Briargate, Inc. and SpineMed Decompression Centers of Colorado, LLC, which shared employees, bank accounts, a bookkeeper, and a CPA. These entities provided chiropractic services in Colorado Springs.

• Other Chiropractors: Gehrmann collaborated with two unnamed chiropractors who participated in the “cookie jar” cash division scheme, though their identities and legal outcomes are not specified.

• Financial Professionals: An outside bookkeeper and CPA were involved in preparing tax filings for the Atlas Entities but were not provided with complete financial records, indicating they were unaware of the fraud.

• No Notable Individuals: Beyond the unnamed chiropractors, no specific partners, clients, or professional associates are mentioned in the sources.

Legal and Financial Concerns

• Lawsuits: No civil lawsuits or client complaints are reported beyond the federal criminal case.

• Bankruptcy Records: No evidence of personal or business bankruptcy filings is noted for Gehrmann or the Atlas Entities.

• Unpaid Debts: No records of unpaid debts or liens are mentioned, though the restitution hearing scheduled for May 2019 may have imposed financial obligations.

• Federal Conviction: Gehrmann was sentenced on April 4, 2019, to 24 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to defraud the United States and filing three false income tax returns. The conviction followed a six-day trial in November 2018, with the indictment filed on July 22, 2015.

• Restitution: A hearing to determine restitution was set for May 23, 2019, but no outcome is provided in the sources, leaving potential financial liabilities uncertain.

Risk Assessment Table

Expert Opinion

Analytical Summary: Thomas Forster Gehrmann Jr.’s profile is marred by a serious federal conviction for tax fraud, casting significant doubt on his professional integrity and reliability as a chiropractor. His deliberate scheme to hide income through a “cookie jar” and “Secret Records” demonstrates unethical behavior, undermining trust in his business practices. The absence of customer feedback, positive or negative, leaves his professional competence uncertain, but the lack of transparency and public endorsement is concerning. While no ongoing legal issues or bankruptcy are noted, the severity of his past misconduct and potential restrictions on his ability to practice make him a high-risk individual for professional or business engagement.

Pros:

• Previously operated established chiropractic businesses (Atlas Entities), suggesting some professional experience.

• No additional lawsuits or complaints beyond the tax fraud case are reported, indicating a potentially narrow scope of misconduct.

Cons:

• Felony convictions for tax fraud and conspiracy severely damage credibility and raise ethical concerns.

• Lack of customer feedback limits transparency about his service quality or client satisfaction.

• Potential financial liabilities from restitution and operational disruptions to the Atlas Entities pose ongoing risks.

Cautionary Advice: Individuals considering Gehrmann’s chiropractic services or business partnerships should proceed with extreme caution. Verify his current professional licensing status with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies to confirm he is authorized to practice post-conviction. Request detailed information about his legal history and any restitution obligations. Given the high reputational and legal risks, explore alternative chiropractors with clean records to avoid potential financial or professional harm. If engaging Gehrmann, ensure transparent agreements and monitor financial transactions closely to mitigate risks of misconduct.

Key Citations

• https://www.justice.gov/usao-co/pr/colorado-springs-chiropractor-sentenced-conspiracy-and-filing-false-income-tax-returns
• https://www.csbj.com/2019/04/17/colorado-springs-chiropractor-sentenced-for-conspiracy/
• https://www.irs.gov/compliance/criminal-investigation/colorado-springs-chiropractor-sentenced-for-conspiracy-and-filing-false-tax-returns