U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney
Southern District of Mississippi
188 East Capitol Street
Suite 500
Jackson, Mississippi 39201-0101
Telephone 601-965-4480
Facsimile 601-965-4409
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2005
SUMRALL MAN SENTENCED TO JAIL FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX FRAUD
DUNN LAMPTON, United States Attorney for the Southern District
of Mississippi, announced that RONNIE L. LEE, of Sumrall, Mississippi, was sentenced
today before United States District Judge David C. Bramlette, III, in federal
court in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. LEE pleaded guilty in May to evasion of payment
of federal income taxes based on his involvement in having a false will probated
in an effort to hide his ownership of property from the Internal Revenue Service.
LEE was sentenced to eleven months of imprisonment to be followed by three years
of supervised release. LEE also was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment.
LEE was charged in March 2004 with attempting to evade and defeat the payment
of federal income taxes that he owes to the United States for the calendar years
1987, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998, in the total
amount of approximately $125,931. As explained in the felony information, LEE
arranged to have a fraudulent will probated that previously had been tendered
to a Revenue Officer of the Internal Revenue Service. The false will purported
to bequeath property belonging to the defendant from the defendant's father,
Larue L. Lee, to the defendant's son, Jason Scott Lee, whereas in truth and
in fact, the defendant was bequeathed ownership of the property by virtue of
the genuine will from his father.
The charge against LEE carried a maximum sentence of five years of imprisonment,
a maximum fine of $250,000, and a period of supervised release of up to three
years.
Assistant United States Attorney GAINES CLEVELAND is the prosecutor in charge
of the case.
Mr. LAMPTON praised the efforts of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation
for its diligent work in the investigation of this case.
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