Laurel Man Sentenced for Filing False Tax Returns

United States Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced that on August 14, 2015, United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Robert Morris, 68 years old of Laurel, Nebraska, to one day custody, six months home confinement, 100 hours of community service, and a $40,000 fine for the offense of filing false tax returns.

Morris has already paid full restitution of $201,949.30 to the Internal Revenue Service.

Each year from 2007 through 2012 Morris underreported a total of more than one million dollars in income on his federal tax returns, resulting in avoidance of federal income taxes totaling $201,949.30.  When Morris learned he was to be audited, he informed the auditor what he’d done and quickly paid his tax debt in full.  The judge cited Morris’ poor health as a reason why no prison term was imposed.

“The term ‘voluntary compliance’ means that each of us is responsible for filing a tax return when required and paying the correct amount of tax,” said Sybil Smith, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation.  “That responsibility should not be taken lightly.”

The case was investigated by the Omaha office of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.