MISSISSIPPI MAN SENTENCED TO 37 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR TAX FRAUD

Jackson, Miss. – Flowers Curtis, a.k.a. Jim Curtis, 57, of Hermanville, Mississippi, was sentenced on Thursday, March 19, 2015 by Senior U.S. District Judge David C. Bramlette to 37 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for committing tax fraud, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced. Curtis was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $185,176.00.

Following an August, 2014 jury trial before Senior U.S. District Judge David C. Bramlette III in Natchez, Curtis was convicted of seven counts of knowingly representing a false claim to the IRS. According to court documents, from on or about Jan. 17, 2009, to on or about Feb. 15, 2012, in Claiborne County and Franklin County, Mississippi, Curtis filed income tax returns for tax years 2008 through 2011 requesting payment of refunds which he knew to be fraudulent in nature. Curtis made the claims by preparing and causing to be prepared, U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns, Form 1040, which were then presented to the Internal Revenue Service for payment.

This case was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Harold Brittain.