Mount Ayr Man Charged With Failing to File Income Tax Returns for Four Years, Mail Fraud, and Hunting Violations
Des Moines, Iowa - James Joseph Juergens, a resident of Mount Ayr, Iowa, appeared in Federal Court today to face a thirteen count indictment which included four counts of willful Failure to File Income tax returns for the calendar years 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005, seven counts of Lacey Act Violations (sale and purchase of wildlife that was unlawfully taken and transported in interstate commerce, i.e. whitetail deer), and two counts of Mail Fraud, announced United States Attorney Matthew G. Whitaker.
It is alleged that Juergens failed to make an income tax return when he was required by law, based on his gross income, following the close of each calendar year or by April 15th of the next year. Specifically, it is alleged that Mr. Juergens was aware that he was required to specifically state his gross income and any deductions and credits to which he was entitled and that he willfully failed to do so for each of the four years charged.
According to the indictment, Juergens did willfully fail to make an income tax return to said person assigned to receive returns at the local office of the Internal Revenue Service, to said Director of the Internal Revenue Service Center, or to any other proper officer of the United States.
“The majority of American taxpayers file timely, accurate tax returns” said Toni Weirauch, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation. “Part of our mission is to assure those honest taxpayers that everyone pays their fair share.”
The Lacey Act Violations and Mail Fraud allegations involve Mr. Juergens operation of a business known as Lott’s Creek Inn, where Mr. Juergens provided outfitting, hunting and guide services in Iowa, between September 2003 and October 2005, to individuals from around the United States. In operating this service, Mr. Juergens allegedly solicited perspective hunters to come to Iowa to hunt and that he would provide legal outfitting, hunting and guide services to his customers. During this process Mr. Juergens allegedly devised and participated in a scheme to defraud and to obtain money and property by means of material false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, promises and omissions of material fact, i.e. hunting with improper licenses, hunting during the closed season, and killing and illegally transporting protected animals across state lines.
The penalties for willful failure to file an income tax return, counts 10 to 13 of Mr. Juergens’ indictment, is one year imprisonment, up to a $25,000 fine, or both imprisonment and fine, on each count.
The penalties for mail fraud, counts 1 & 2, is up to twenty years in prison and a fine of $250,000,or both imprisonment and fine, on each count.
The Penalties for Lacey Act Violations, counts 3 to 9, is five years imprisonment, and up to a $20,000 fine, or both imprisonment and fine, on each count.
This investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.