United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

LUBBOCK COUNTY MAN SENTENCED TO MORE THAN THREE
YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE, FOR
FAILING TO FILE INCOME TAX RETURNS

LUBBOCK, Texas — James Michael Long was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to a total of 37 months in federal prison following his conviction at trial in October on four counts of willful failure to file an income tax return, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. In addition, Judge Cummings ordered Long pay $93,484.69 in restitution.

Long, who according to the Information filed in the case, is a resident of Plainview, Texas. According to court records, he has been in custody since late October when his bond was revoked by the Court when it found that a review of documents that Long had attempted to file with the Clerk of Court indicated to the Court, according to a minute entry filed on the docket sheet “that this is typical Republic of Texas “psychobabble” which apparently is intended to either intimidate the Court or frustrate the administration of justice in this case.”

According to court documents, Long was arrested in May on the charges and was detained pending further proceedings because, as U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles Bleil noted in a written order of detention, the defendant “refused to talk with probation officers about his background, employment, address or any pertinent information. Additionally, he refused to complete a financial affidavit. The defendant was also bizarre in his conduct, seemed irrational, and expressed a lack of recognition of any authority over him.” Long was eventually released on bond in early September.

During Long’s trial, the government presented evidence that during tax years 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004, Long received income from several sources, including Dallas Auto Auction, ADESA Texas and affiliates, Assister and Associates, Caison Auction Service, Greater Nevada Auto Auction, John Sisk Auctioneering, Ward Brothers Tractor Co., and DFW Auto Auction. His income was $65,447.47 for 2001; $72,714 for 2002; $188,485 for 2003; and $135,177.60 for 2004. His income was well above the minimum amounts required to file an income tax return for each of the respective years.

U. S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the IRS - Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ann C. Roberts and Jeffrey R. Haag of the Lubbock, Texas, U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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