News and Press Releases
Wirth tax return preparer sentenced for preparing a false corporate tax return for The Wirth Companies
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 26, 2012
MINNEAPOLIS—Today in federal court, a local certified public accountant and tax preparer was sentenced for preparing a false corporate tax return for The Wirth Companies (“TWC”). United States District Judge Ann D. Montgomery sentenced Michael James Murry to 18 months in federal prison, a $50,000 fine, and one year of supervised release on one count of preparing a false corporate tax return. Murry, who was indicted along with Jeffrey John Wirth and his former wife on August 17, 2011, pleaded guilty on May 3, 2012.
In his plea agreement, Murry admitted that on September 15, 2006, he aided and advised the preparation and submission of a false corporate income tax return for TWC, a commercial real estate development and management business. From 1991 through 2010, Murry was TWC’s primary tax return preparer as well as the tax return preparer for Wirth, who owns TWC, and Holly Claire Damiani, who was Wirth’s wife at the time.
In addition, Murry admitted that on the 2005 corporate tax return, he reflected $0 in property distributions to Wirth and his then-wife, even though he knew TWC had provided substantial monetary distributions to the pair.
This case was the result of an investigation by the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William J. Otteson.
Per U.S. Department of Justice policy, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is not allowed to provide the age and city of residence for defendants charged in criminal tax cases.
