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Press Release

Kalamazoo Couple Sentenced To Prison For Tax Crimes

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Michigan
 

           GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – Helen C. Hale and her husband, David W. Leiter, both residents of Kalamazoo County, Michigan, were sentenced for tax crimes today by U.S. District Court Judge Judge Robert J. Jonker. U.S. Attorney Patrick Miles is joined in this announcement by Jarod Koopman, Special Agent in Charge- IRS Criminal Investigation.

           Helen Hale was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison followed by two years of supervised release for tax evasion. She was also ordered to pay $277,391.31 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. David Leiter was sentenced to three months in prison followed by one year of supervised release for failure to file a tax return. He was ordered to pay $105,689 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.

           According to court records, Hale was self-employed as the owner of Kiddie Komfort Preschool and Daycare in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Hale failed to timely file Federal income tax returns for the years 2006 and 2008- 2012, despite having gross business receipts of $2,693,478. Hale did file a Federal income tax return for 2007 but failed to report approximately $380,165 in gross receipts that she received from her daycare business. In December 2013, Hale pled guilty to one count of income tax evasion.

           According to court records, Leiter was self-employed as the owner of David Michael Studios, a hair salon in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Leiter failed to file Federal income tax returns for tax years 2009 through 2012, despite having gross business receipts of approximately $200,736. In December 2013, Leiter pled guilty to one count of failing to file an income tax return.

           “Tax evasion is not a victimless crime,” said Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Jarod Koopman, IRS Criminal Investigation. “Individuals who corruptly violate the law to further their business interests and intentionally evade paying their fair share of taxes undermine public confidence in our tax system and unfairly disadvantage businesses that play by the rules. As Hale and Leiter have discovered, operating outside the law and failing to pay taxes has severe consequences.”

           The IRS investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rene Shekmer prosecuted it.

END

Updated April 14, 2015