North Platte Physicians Sentenced in Tax Case
United States Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced the following sentences as handed down by United States Judge Richard G. Kopf on January 27, 2012.
In total, eight former and current residents of North Platte, Nebraska were involved in a tax evasion scheme that allowed them to greatly reduce the amount of taxes that they owed for numerous years. The investigation began when the Internal Revenue Service performed an audit of various tax returns filed on behalf of Dr. Michael Koning and his ex-wife, Susan Baisden-Koning, and entities controlled by the Konings. The Koning’s had hired Lowell Baisden, Susan Baisden-Koning’s brother and also a certified public accountant, to prepare and handle their tax matters. As the investigation continued, the IRS determined that a number of other medical professionals in the North Platte, area had been introduced Baisden and had become his clients. Lowell Baisden assisted all of these individuals in various evasive tax accounting practices which resulted in over $2 million dollars in taxes being evaded by the clients and owed to the United States by the individuals who were sentenced today.
Dr. Koning and his ex-wife previously pled guilty to tax evasion. In court today, Judge Kopf sentenced Dr. Koning to five years of probation and a fine of $60,000 and 100 hours of community service. As part of his sentence, Dr. Koning is required to continue his medical practice in the Northern Mariana Islands, a Commonwealth of the United States. Susan Baisden-Koning also received five years of probation, 100 hours of community service and will pay a fine of $6,000. Dr. Koning and his ex-wife were ordered to pay restitution of $989,531 to the Internal Revenue Service.
Dr. Michael Trierweiler, who pled guilty to tax evasion, was given a five year probation sentence and ordered to pay a fine of $50,000. He will also perform 100 hour of community service. Deanna Trierweiler pled guilty to a count of failure to pay taxes and was given a probation sentence of two years, a fine of $4,000 and 50 hours of community service. Together, the Trierweiler’s will pay $258,154 in restitution to the IRS for the taxes they did not pay.
Kathryn Snoozy, C.R.N.A. and her husband Donald Snoozy previously pled guilty to willful failure to file tax returns. Kathryn Snoozy was given five years of probation, 100 hours of community service and restitution in the amount of $77,214. Her husband, Donald Snoozy, will complete one year of probation and was also ordered to pay the same amount of restitution.
Dr. Walter Weaver and his wife, Dr. Deborah Weaver were each sentenced to five years of probation for tax evasion. They will also complete 100 hours of community service and each will pay a $25,000 fine. They were ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $224, 365.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service.
