New jersey probation officer charged with tax evasion
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
February 2, 2012 |
CAMDEN, N.J. – Federal agents arrested a New Jersey state probation officer at his home today on charges of evading federal income taxes from 2005 through 2008 by falsely claiming that he was exempt from income tax withholding, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Charles Armstead, a/k/a Rawus Jamus, 43, of Pittsgrove, N.J., was charged with four counts of tax evasion in an Indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Camden and unsealed today at his initial appearance before U.S. District Judge Jerome Simandle in Camden federal court.
According to documents filed in this case:
From 2005 through 2008 Armstead submitted to his employer a W-4 form falsely claiming he was exempt from withholding and that no federal tax should be withheld from his wages. Armstead then failed to file his federal income tax returns for those years when due and failed to pay the income tax he owed. The state of New Jersey began withholding federal income taxes from Armstead’s pay in April 2008 at the request of the IRS. Armstead failed to pay approximately $40,030 in federal income taxes plus any applicable interest and penalties.
Under each tax evasion count on which he was charged, Armstead faces a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge JoAnn Zuniga, with the investigation leading to the Indictment.
The charges and allegations contained in the Indictment are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney R. David Walk, Jr. of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.
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Defense counsel: Christopher O’Malley Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Camden
