Nutritional Supplement Marketer Pleads Guilty to Tax Crime

WASHINGTON – A Monument, Colorado, man pled guilty today to one count of attempting to evade the payment of income taxes announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Jason R. Dunn for the District of Colorado.

According to the plea agreement and other court documents, Craig Walcott operated a multi-level nutritional supplement marketing business and owned and leased residential real estate, while residing in Monument, Colorado.  In April 2010, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) notified Walcott of an assessment of taxes and penalties for the 2005, 2006 and 2007 tax years of more than $450,000.  After receiving this notice, Walcott took a series of steps to evade the payment of his tax liability.  These steps included transferring properties to nominee entities, encumbering other properties with fictitious mortgages to conceal their equity, and filing false tax returns understating his income.  Walcott also did not file income tax returns for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014. As a result of his conduct, Walcott owes $628,733.00, which he has agreed to pay the IRS in restitution.

Sentencing is scheduled for February 25, 2019.  Walcott faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison.  He also faces a term of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Dunn commended special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Tax Division Assistant Chief Andrew Kameros and Trial Attorney Lee Langston, who are prosecuting the case.