Clarksville Man Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax Returns
James Robert Sanford, 53, of Clarksville, Tenn., pleaded guilty on January 14, 2013, to filing a false claim for a federal income tax refund, and to aiding and abetting in the filing of a false claim for a federal income tax refund, announced Jerry E. Martin, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.
On November 30, 2011, Sanford was indicted by a federal grand jury in Nashville and charged with six counts of filing false tax returns. According to the indictment, Sanford prepared and filed 2006 and 2007 federal income tax returns for himself and his spouse, knowing that the returns were false, fictitious, and fraudulent. These returns claimed refunds of $5,774.00 and $4,276.00, respectively.
The indictment also alleged that Sanford prepared and filed false income tax returns for other individuals for calendar year 2006. These returns claimed refunds ranging from $3,490.00 to $7,128.00 and Sanford knew these returns were fraudulent as well.
Sanford will be sentenced before Chief Judge William J. Haynes, Jr. on April 8, 2013, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count.
This investigation was conducted by IRS-Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Darryl Stewart represented the government.
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