Tax Crimes Press Releases

December 12, 2014

HAZELRIGG: Former Bellevue Developer Convicted of Tax Evasion

October 31, 2014

BROWN: Latest Participant in OID-1099 Tax Fraud Scheme Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison

October 16, 2014

BAXTER: Olympia Tax Preparer Sentenced to Prison for Filing False Claims

October 7, 2014

COLACO: Canadian Tax Fraud Promoter Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison

October 6, 2014

RISTICK: Tacoma Man Sentenced to Nearly Four Years in Prison for Falsely Claiming $1.8 Million in Income Tax Refunds

July 25, 2014

AARON: Former Federal Employees Sentenced to Prison for Tax Fraud

July 11, 2014

STAHLMAN: Pierce County Woman Sentenced to Three Years for Identity Theft and Tax Refund Fraud Scheme

July 11, 2014

BAXTER: Olympia Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Filing False Claims

June 9, 2014

RISTICK: Tacoma Man Pleads Guilty to Falsely Claiming $1.8 Million in Income Tax Returns

April 11, 2014

STAHLMAN: Pierce County Woman Pleads Guilty to Tax Refund Fraud Scheme

YANN: PKent Tax Preparer Indicted for Wire Fraud, False Claims and Aggravated Identity Theft

December 6, 2013

URREA: Cancer Researcher Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Tax Evasion

November 22, 2013

BONTRAGER: Former Real Estate Developer and his Long-Time Girlfriend Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion Scheme

November 5, 2013

REED: Former Pierce County Tax Preparer Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Scheme Resulting in More than $4 Million in Tax Loss

October 23, 2013

ZEIN AUTOMOBILES INC.: Washington's Largest Volume Used Car Dealerhip Pleads Guilty to Financial Reporting Crimes

October 1, 2013

BROWN: Lacy, Washington Repeat Offender Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Oxycodone Trafficking

DOOR: Former Prison Inmate who ran Scam from State Penitentiary Pleads Guilty to Tax and Weapons Charges

August 5, 2013

HAZELRIGG: Former Bellevue Developer Indicted for Tax Evasion and Social Security Fraud

July 31, 2013

BONTRAGER and ANDERSON: Former Real Estate Developer and his Long-Time Girlfriend Convicted of Tax Evasion Scheme

July 30, 2013

DORIA: University Place Tax Preparer Sentenced for Tax Evasion

June 26, 2013

FRINK: Redmond Man Sentenced for Filing False Claim Against U.S. Treasury

June 14, 2013

JARLIK BELL: 'Sovereign Citizen' Sentenced to 8+ Years in Prison for Tax Fraud Scheme

May 24, 2013

LEAMING and STEPHENSON: Two Members of So-Called 'Sovereign Citizen' Movement Sentenced to Long Prison Terms

April 8, 2013

WRIGHT: Tacoma Man Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison for Tax Fraud Scheme

March 8, 2013

KIM: Pierce County Man Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison for Interstate Prostitution and Money Laundering Conspiracies and Tax Fraud

November 29, 2012

SPRAGUE: Enumclaw Roofing Company Owner Sentenced to Prison for Willful Tax Evasion

September 7, 2012

FRINK: Redmond Man Indicted for Tax Fraud, Money Laundering and Bank Fraud

July 20, 2012

SPRAGUE: Enumclaw Roofing Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud

June 22, 2012

BREKKE: California Man Sentenced for Tax Fraud Conspiracy that Resulted in more than $14 Million Tax Loss

April 19, 2012

DOOR: Four Indicted on Tax Rebate Scam Involving Personl Information of Prison Inmates

March 15, 2012

BREKKE: California Man Convicted of Tax Fraud that Resulted in More Than $14 Million Tax Loss

February 1, 2012

GARRISON: Skagit County Tax Defier Sentenced to 3+ Years in Prison for Filing of False Tax Returns

November 17, 2011

KUKHAHN: Long Time Abusive Trust Promoter Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison

November 10, 2011

JOHNSON: South Sound Doctor Convicted of Health Care Fraud, Tax Crimes and Drug Distribution

November 4, 2011

SETON: Marysville Tax Preparer Sentenced to Six Months in Prison for Falsifying Tax Returns to Increase Tax Refunds

June 29, 2011

STUART: Blaine Man who Collected Millions with Version of 'Nigerian Inheritance' Scam Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Tax Crimes

May 12, 2011

KUKHAHN: Long Time Abusive Trust Promoter Convicted of Conspiracy, Income Tax Evasion, and Interfering with Income Tax Laws

March 18, 2011

GUENTHNER: Owner of Arlington Electrical Firms Pleads Guilty to Failing to Pay Taxes

1/28/11 QUELLOS
FORMER QUELLOS EXECUTIVES SENTENCED IN OFFSHORE TAX SHELTER SCAM INVOLVING MORE THAN $9.6 BILLION IN PHONY STOCK SALES
Men Fabricated Losses as a Tool to Help Wealthy Avoid Taxes

1/13/11 SHU
CLARK COUNTY COUPLE PLEADS GUILTY TO COUNTERFEIT SOFTWARE SCHEME
Pleas Follow Trial’s Opening Statements on Sales of Counterfeit Software and Tax Evasion

12/20/10 EISENBERG
SEATTLE UBS CLIENT PLEADS GUILTY TO FILING A FALSE TAX RETURN

10/8/10 ONDRACEK
PORT ORCHARD WOMAN SENTENCED FOR TAX EVASION
Movie Theater Owner Structured Deposits to Avoid Reporting Laws

9/10/10 QUELLOS
FORMER QUELLOS EXECUTIVES PLEAD GUILTY IN
OFFSHORE TAX SHELTER SCAM INVOLVING MORE THAN $9.6 BILLION IN PHONY STOCK SALES
Men Agree to Disgorge Profits, Pay Costs of Prosecution and Face Years in Prison

8/6/10 MASON
CANADIAN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR TRYING TO FALSELY CLAIM LARGE TAX REFUND
Defendant Continued Trying to Claim U.S. Tax Money Following Conviction

7/16/10 STUART
BLAINE MAN WHO COLLECTED MILLIONS WITH VERSION OF “NIGERIAN INHERITANCE” SCAM INDICTED FOR WIRE FRAUD AND TAX CRIMES
Claimed He Needed ‘Investors’ to get Nigerian Inheritance Funds from Canada

7/9/10 CONN SILVERMAN
CIGARETTE BROKER AND WAREHOUSE CO-OWNER SENTENCED FOR TRAFFICKING IN UNTAXED CIGARETTES
Both Hit with Prison Sentences and Millions in Restitution to State of Washington

4/13/10 MASON
CANADIAN CONVICTED OF TRYING TO FALSELY CLAIM LARGE TAX REFUND
Defendant Found Guilty Following Two Day Trial

4/12/10 KUKHAHN
LONG TIME ABUSIVE TRUST PROMOTER INDICTED FOR CONSPIRACY, INCOME TAX EVASION AND INTERFERING WITH INCOME TAX LAWS
Former Partner of Convicted Income Tax Fraudster Indicted for Continuing Scheme

3/5/10 ONDRACEK
PORT ORCHARD WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO TAX EVASION
Movie Theater Owner Structured Deposits to Avoid Reporting Laws

2/12/10 WILBUR
SWINOMISH TRIBAL MEMBERS PLEAD GUILTY TO CONTRABAND CIGARETTE SCHEME
Failed to Pay more than $10 Million in State or Tribal Tax on Cigarettes

1/15/10 CONN
CIGARETTE BROKER PLEADS GUILTY FOR TRAFFICKING IN UNTAXED CIGARETTES
California Tobacco Broker is the Latest to Plead Guilty in Contraband Cigarette Conspiracy

1/8/10 CITTADINI
SEATTLE AREA UBS CLIENT SENTENCED TO HOME DETENTION, COMMUNITY SERVICE AND FINE FOR FILING A FALSE TAX RETURN
Retired Boeing Sales Manager Concealed Nearly $2 Million Overseas

1/5/10 CUNNINGHAM
SECOND CIGARETTE WHOLESALER PLEADS GUILTY FOR TRAFFICKING IN UNTAXED CIGARETTES
New Mexico Tobacco Distributor is the Latest to Plead Guilty in Contraband Cigarette Conspiracy

12/18/09 BIELASKI
BELLEVUE WOMAN SENTENCED TO 15 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR FAILING TO PAY EMPLOYMENT TAXES
Defendant Failed to Pay $2.4 Million Withheld from Employee Paychecks

12/10/09 KRANE
LOS ANGELES LAWYER PLEADS GUILTY TO PASSPORT FRAUD AND TAX EVASION IN CONNECTION WITH KICKBACK SCHEME
Defendant Failed to Report More than $35 Million in Income Hidden Overseas

10/16/09 ERIKSEN
OWNERS OF NOW DEFUNCT BALLARD ELECTRICAL FIRM GUILTY OF EMBEZZLEMENT FROM EMPLOYEE 401(K) PLAN
Jury Finds Father and Son Guilty of Failing to Pay Employee Retirement Contributions to Trust Fund

9/25/09 BIELASKI
BELLEVUE WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FAILURE TO PAY WITHHELD TAX
Admits Failing to Send Tax Withheld from Construction Company Employees’ Wages to IRS

9/9/09 SILVERMAN
CIGARETTE WHOLESALERS FACE CHARGES FOR TRAFFICKING IN UNTAXED CIGARETTES
Indictments Allege Various Suppliers Conspired to Traffic in Contraband Cigarettes

7/6/09 WILBUR
SWINOMISH TRIBAL MEMBERS INDICTED FOR CONTRABAND CIGARETTE SCHEME
Failed to Pay more than $10 Million in State or Tribal Tax on Cigarettes

7/1/09 MONTOUR
TRIBAL CIGARETTE WHOLESALER INDICTED FOR LYING TO COURT
Owner of New York Company Allegedly Submitted Multiple False Declarations in Smoke Shop Forfeiture Case

6/4/09 QUELLOS
FORMER INVESTMENT FIRM CEO AND TWO ATTORNEYS INDICTED IN OFFSHORE TAX FRAUD AND KICKBACK SCHEME
Men Allegedly Used Phony Stock Sales Scheme to Help Investors Avoid Income Taxes on more than $1 Billion

5/15/09 LANDAU
BELLEVUE LAWYER SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR TAX EVASION, MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS AND OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE IN TAX AUDIT
Lawyer Lied to IRS Agent About Bank Account and Unreported Income

3/31/09 SMITH
FORMER WORK STUDY PARTICIPANT PLEADS GUILTY IN FALSE TIMECARD SCHEME
Money Stolen from Department of Veterans Affairs

3/20/09 PARTRIDGE
WILLFUL FAILURE TO FILE TAX RETURNS RESULTS IN PRISON TIME
Renton Multi-Level Marketer Sent to Prison for Failing to File and Pay $1.8 Million in Taxes

3/18/09 LANDAU
BELLEVUE LAWYER CONVICTED OF TAX EVASION, MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS AND OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE IN TAX AUDIT
Lawyer Lied to IRS Agent About Bank Account and Unreported Income

3/16/09 GOODRIDGE
OPERATORS OF “BLUE STILLY” SMOKE SHOP SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR TRAFFICKING IN MILLIONS OF CONTRABAND CIGARETTES
Defendants Knowingly Failed to Pay More than $25 Million in State Taxes

3/3/09 GOTTFRIEDSON
FORMER PUYALLUP TRIBAL COUNCIL MEMBER AND SMOKE SHOP OWNER SENTENCED FOR CONTRABAND CIGARETTE SCHEME
Couple Cheating State out of Millions of Dollars in Cigarette Taxes

1/23/09 MEAD
SNOHOMISH WOMAN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR FAILING TO PAY WITHHELD EMPLOYEE EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME TAXES
Flooring Company Owner Failed to Pay Nearly $500,000 to IRS

12/30/08 DAVIS
FORMER ARLINGTON EMPLOYEE PLEADS GUILTY TO MAIL FRAUD AND FILING A FALSE TAX RETURN
Former Employee Embezzled More than $1.3 Million

11/20/08 GOODRIDGE
OWNERS OF “BLUE STILLY” SMOKE SHOP PLEAD GUILTY TO TRAFFICKING IN MILLIONS OF CONTRABAND CIGARETTES
Defendants Knowingly Failed to Pay More than $25 Million in State Taxes

10/31/08 ROBERTSON
RESTAURANT OWNER SENTENCED FOR TAX EVASION Defendant Failed to Pay Withheld Employee Taxes and Penalties

8/13/08 GOTTFRIEDSON
SMOKE SHOP OWNERS PLEAD GUILTY TO CONSPIRING TO TRAFFIC IN CONTRABAND CIGARETTES AND STRUCTURING $2.1 MILLION OF CASH TRANSACTIONS

8/7/08 LARSON
INTERNET ENTREPRENEUR SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR TAX FRAUD

6/27/08 MCMULLEN
VANCOUVER MAN SENTENCED TO HOME CONFINEMENT FOR LYING TO IRS AGENT - Defendant Failed to Disclose Timeshare and Bank Account

6/12/08 ROBERTSON
RESTAURANT OWNER PLEADS GUILTY TO TAX EVASION Defendant Failed to Pay Withheld Employee Taxes and Penalties

5/5/08 MEAD
SNOHOMISH WOMAN INDICTED FOR FAILING TO PAY WITHHELD EMPLOYEE EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME TAXES - Indictment Alleges Flooring Company Owner Failed to Pay more than $300,000 to IRS

4/14/08 TERRY
PUYALLUP CHIROPRACTOR SENTENCED TO TEN MONTHS INCARCERATION FOR FAILING TO FILE FEDERAL INCOME TAX RETURNS

4/11/08 LARSON
SOFTWARE DEVELOPER PLEADS GUILTY TO FILING FALSE TAX RETURN - Owner of Red Planet Corp. Failed to Report more than $1 Million in Income

3/28/08 MCMULLEN
VANCOUVER MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO LYING TO IRS AGENT - Defendant Failed to Disclose Timeshare and Bank Account

3/24/08 GEBAUER
BELLEVUE RESIDENT SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS IN JAIL FOR TAX EVASION - Multi-Level Marketing Guru Failed to File Income Tax Returns on Millions of Dollars of Income

3/14/08 LANDAU
BELLEVUE LAWYER INDICTED FOR MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS AND OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE IN TAX AUDIT - Lawyer Allegedly Lied to IRS Agent and Destroyed Records of Unreported Income

3/7/08 ROBERTSON
RESTAURANT OWNER INDICTED FOR TAX EVASION AND WILLFUL FAILURE TO PAY TAXES - Defendant Failed to Pay Withheld Employee Taxes and Penalties

2/20/08 AUSTIN-WERLINK
FORMER OWNERS OF SEATTLE COMPANY SENTENCED FOR FILING FALSE INCOME TAX RETURNS - Men had Company Pay their Personal Expenses, Failed to Report as Income

12/19/07 ROLLOLAZO
TAX PREPARER SENTENCED FOR ASSISTING IN THE PREPARATION OF FALSE TAX RETURN - Preparer Overstated Deductions for 37 Clients, Illegally Lowering Tax Bills

10/25/07 AUSTIN/WERLINK
FORMER OWNERS OF SEATTLE COMPANY PLEAD GUILTY TO FILING FALSE INCOME TAX RETURNS - Men had Company Pay their Personal Expenses, Failed to Report as Income

10/5/07 VINSON
SEATTLE MAN SENTENCED FOR TAX FRAUD SCHEME - Defendant Recruited Low-Income Women to File False Tax Returns

9/7/07 VANCE
RENTON COUPLE SENTENCED FOR TAX FRAUD - Couple Set up Sham Corporations to Conceal Income

8/13/07 GEBAUER
LAKE SAMMAMISH RESIDENT CONVICTED ON FOUR COUNTS OF TAX EVASION - Multi-Level marketing Guru Failed to File Income Tax Returns on Millions of Dollars of Income

8/2/07 COOK
WADE AND LAURA COOK SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR TAX EVASION, FILING FALSE TAX RETURNS AND OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - Financial Guru and his Wife Failed to Report Millions in Income and Falsified Documents to Derail Government's Investigation

8/1/07 ROLLOLAZO
TAX PREPARER PLEADS GUILTY TO ASSISTING IN THE PREPARATION OF FALSE TAX RETURNS - Preparer Overstated Deductions for 37 clients, Illegally Lowering Tax Bills

7/27/07 HOLST
PUYALLUP MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO BANK FRAUD, BANKRUPTCY FRAUD, AND EVASION OF TAXES - Defendant Owned and Operated Dump Truck Hauling Company and Rock, Dirt and Gravel Company

7/6/07 FORD
SEATTLE MAN SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS IN PRISON FOR TAX FRAUD SCHEME - Defendant Recruited Low-Income Women to File False Tax Returns for Unlawful Refund

6/4/07 VANCE
RENTON COUPLE PLEADS GUILTY TO TAX FRAUD - Couple Set up Sham Corporations to Conceal Income

5/25/07 YOUNG
TAX PREP EMPLOYEE INDICTED FOR BANK FRAUD, SOCIAL SECURITY FRAUD AND AGGRAVATED IDENTITY THEFT - Woman Used Personal Information from H & R Block Customers to get Tax Refund

5/23/07 PAUL
SEATTLE TAX PREPARER PLEADS GUILTY IN CONNECTION WITH PREPARATION OF FALSE TAX RETURNS - Preparer Overstated Deductions and Claimed Fictitious Business Losses

5/16/07 COOK
LAURA COOK PLEADS GUILTY TO OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - Wife of Former Financial Guru Admits Falsifying Documents In Effort to Derail Government's Tax Evasion Investigation

3/7/07 VINSON/FORD
TWO SEATTLE MEN INDICTED FOR SEPARATE TAX FRAUD SCHEMES - Defendants Each Allegedly Made More than $50,000 by Recruiting Others to File Fraudulent Returns

2/21/07 COOK
WADE COOK CONVICTED OF TAX EVASION, FILING FALSE TAX RETURNS AND OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - Financial Guru failed to Report Millions in Income and Falsified Documents to Derail Governments Investigation

12/1/06 FLAKE
SUMNER MAN SENTENCED FOR INCOME TAX EVASION - Admits paid too littletax on more than $2 million in receipts paid by U.S. Postal Service

10/5/06 SHANAHAN
TRUST SCHEME PROMOTER SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS IN PRISON - Tacoma Man Pleaded Guilty in midst of Trial with Co-defendant

9/29/06 BROWN
WYOMING BUSINESSMAN SENTENCED FOR HIS ROLE IN TAX FRAUD SCHEME - Assisted Prominent Seattle Businessman in Evading Income Taxes

9/12/06 FLAKE
SUMNER MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO INCOME TAX EVASION - Admits Paid Too Little Tax on More than $2 Million Received from U.S. Postal Service

6/20/06 BROWN
WYOMING BUSINESSMAN PLEADS GUILTY FOR HIS ROLE IN TAX FRAUD SCHEME - Assisted Prominent Seattle Businessman in Evading Income Taxes

5/18/06 DAVID CARROLL STEPHENSON
Washington State Trust scheme promoter sentenced to 8 years in prison

5/5/06 FLAKE
SUMNER MAN INDICTED FOR EVASION OF INCOME TAXES - Allegedly Paid No Taxes on More than $300,000 of Income

3/3/06 BEKINS
SEATTLE MAN SENTENCED TO HOME DETENTION, COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR FILING FALSE TAX RETURN - Former President of Bekins Moving and Storage failed to report income of $2.5 million

1/13/06 HOLMGREN
FORMER MILL CREEK RESIDENT SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR FAILING TO FILE INCOME TAX RETURNS ON INCOME OF MORE THAN $1,000,000

1/6/06 SMITH
BELLEVUE REAL ESTATE SALESMAN SENTENCED FOR RAILING TO FILE INCOME TAX RETURNS

12/2/05 COOK
Asset Protection Guru Charged with Tax Fraud - Prominent Fall City couple concealed more than $8 million to avoid taxes

11/3/05 BROWN
Wyoming Man Indicted for Tax Fraud - Scheme Allegedly Hid Income from IRS in Offshore Bank Accounts

10/21/05 ANDERSON ARK
CPA Sentenced in $120 Million International Tax Shelter Case

10/14/05 WEATHERS
Vancouver, Washington, Hotel and Rental Property Owner Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Tax Evasion

9/14/05 SMITH
Former Bellevue Real Estate Salesman Pleads Guilty to Failing to File Income Tax Returns

7/29/05 BORGELT
Former Tacoma Gun Store Owner Pleads Guilty to Failing to File a Tax Return

7/19/05 HOLMGREN
Former Mill Creek Resident Pleads Guilty to Failing to File Income Tax Returns on Income of More Than $1 Million

6/29/05 WEATHERS
Vancouver Washington Hotel and Rental Property Owners Convicted of Tax Evasion

4/1/05 BUI-NGUYEN
Seattle Men Sentenced for Tax Fraud - Failed to Report $1.8 Million in Income

3/1/05 STEPHENSON
Washington State Trust Promoters Indicted For Tax Conspiracy

2/7/05 ENGEL
Federal Way Fraudster Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Prison for Bankruptcy Fraud, Mail Fraud and Using False Documents

1/14/05 NORASINH
Everett Tax Preparer Gets Prison Term for Preparing False Returns

1/5/05 NGUYEN
Seattle Man Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud - Fails to Report $1.8 Million in Income