# Oregon: La Mota Owner, Rosa Cazares….”I done paid my taxes your honor, I plead not guilty”

> La Mota CEO pleads not guilty to tax fraud; her lawyer says $1.5M in taxes paid 3 years ago

- Published: 2026-11-08
- By: Green Ark
- Places: Oregon, US

- Web page: https://www.greenark.io/articles/oregon-la-mota-owner-rosa-cazares-i-done-paid-my-taxes-your-honor-i-plead-not-guilty

**La Mota CEO pleads not guilty to tax fraud; her lawyer says $1.5M in taxes paid 3 years ago**

Rosa Cazares, the chief executive officer of the embattled cannabis chain La Mota, made her first appearance in federal court on Thursday and entered not guilty pleas to an [eight-count indictment](https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2026/10/embattled-cannabis-business-ceo-accused-of-failing-to-pay-15-million-in-federal-payroll-taxes.html) charging her with failing to pay more than $1.5 million in federal payroll taxes on time.

At least a dozen supporters attended the brief hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Youlee Yim You.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Bateman said she agreed with Cazares’ continued release but asked that she sign a form confirming that she will not harass any potential witnesses.

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Information, not legal advice. Check the primary source before relying on it. Source: Green Ark (www.greenark.io).