JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SUES TO HALT ALLEGED TAX SCAM

Complaint Alleges That Wheat Ridge, Colorado Man Claims To Exempt Customers From Federal Taxation

WASHINGTON D.C. - The Justice Department today asked a federal court in Denver to order a Wheat Ridge, Colorado man to stop promoting a tax scheme that purports to remove customers from the federal tax system. According to today’s complaint, Eric Wesley Lynch sells documents to customers that he falsely claims will-if they send the documents to the IRS and other government officials-exempt the customers from federal taxes. The complaint alleges that Lynch sells the scheme to customers nationwide for up-front prices from $200 to $1,500. The complaint also seeks an order directing Lynch to give the Justice Department records identifying the names, addresses, and Social Security numbers of customers who bought his abusive products, and barring Lynch from representing other persons before the IRS.

“Stopping tax-scam promoters is a high priority for us,” said Eileen J. O’Connor, Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice’s Tax Division. “In addition to shutting down such businesses, we are equally committed to identifying the customers who participated in such scams, who can expect to face civil penalties and, where appropriate, criminal prosecution.”

More information about the Justice Department's efforts against tax-scam promoters can be found at: <http://www.usdoj.gov/tax/taxpress2004.htm>. Information about the Justice Department's Tax Division can be found at <http://www.usdoj.gov/tax>.

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