SACRAMENTO– Randy K. Barker, 59, and Tamara M. Barker, 52, both of Chico, were indicted today for conspiracy to submit a false tax refund claim and transactions in criminally derived property, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced. Randy Barker is also charged with submitting a false claim to the United States.

According to the indictment, the Barkers submitted a 2008 tax return that falsely claimed interest income of $1,480,242 and false withholdings of almost the same amount. This combination allowed the Barkers to claim a refund of $987,000. Randy Barker was able to conceal the fraudulent nature of the interest income by filing documents on a separate tax database. Once the refund was paid by the IRS, the Barkers bought a house in Chico, a new truck, and furniture. Tamara Barker paid for the house in full with a personal check for $495,000.

According to other court documents, the Barkers are associated with the Tax Challenger community, a group of individuals who believe that the tax laws are unconstitutional or otherwise invalid.

This case is the product of an investigation by the IRS-Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jared C. Dolan is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, the Barkers face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory sentencing factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

The charges are only allegations. Each of the defendants listed is presumed innocent, unless and until proven guilty.

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