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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
May 4 , 2009
GRANTVILLE MAN ADMITS FILING FALSE TAX RETURN
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Grantville, Kan., man has pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return, Acting U.S. Attorney Marietta Parker said today.
Scott McPherson, 50, pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false income tax return. According to a criminal information filed in March, McPherson filed a Form 1040 income tax return claiming his taxable income for calendar year 2003 was $55,245. In fact, his taxable income for 2003 was $370,294.
At a plea hearing, prosecutors told the court that the crime occurred while McPherson was vice president, treasurer and officer manager of McPherson Wrecking Company in Grantville, Kan., which is a company owned by his parents. Beginning in 2001, he stole funds from the company by writing checks to himself drawn on the company’s accounts and wiring money from the company’s bank account into his personal bank account by using the bank’s online services. As a result of the embezzlement, during 2001 through 2006 he failed to report income totaling more than $727,000 and underpaid taxes by more than $218,000.
Sentencing is set for July 31, 2009. He faces a maximum penalty of 3 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Parker commended the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Kenney for their work on the case.
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