Birmingham Lawyer Charged With Failure to File Income Tax Returns
BIRMINGHAM – Federal prosecutors today charged a Birmingham lawyer with willfully failing to file federal income tax returns for three years on gross income totaling more than $500,000, U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Special Agent in Charge Donald B. Yaden announced.
The U.S. Attorney's Office filed a three-count information in U.S. District Court charging JONATHAN E. LYERLY, 65, with failing to file the income tax returns for 2005, 2006 and 2007, although he knew he was legally required to file them.
Failure to file federal income tax returns carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $25,000 fine.
The IRS Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Pat Meadows and Robin B. Mark are investigating the case.
The public is reminded that an information contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government's burden to prove a defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
