Federal Grand Jury Returns Four Count Indictment for Tax Fraud

Scottsdale man arrested after claiming more than $490k in false tax refunds

PHOENIX – A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment against Jon Nikolai Carlson, 43, of Scottsdale, for filing false income tax returns. On May 29, 2012, Carlson was charged with filing four falsified returns seeking a total of $491,943 in income tax refunds. Carlson was arrested today on these charges. 
The indictment alleges that Carlson falsely claimed income tax refunds in the following amounts when he filed the following tax returns with the IRS:

• 2005 tax return: $65,744;
• 2006 tax return: $67,216;
• 2007 tax return: $355,418; and
• 2008 tax return: $103,565.

Each conviction for filing false income tax returns carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison, a $100,000 fine, or both.
An indictment is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. The prosecution is being handled by Frederick A Battista, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER:                  CR-12-1113-PHX-ROS
RELEASE NUMBER:           2012-138(Carlson)

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az