Former Great Falls Dentist Sentenced For 1 Million In Tax Fraud

GREAT FALLS - A former Great Falls dentist has been sentenced to 40 months imprisonment and two years supervised release for tax evasion. James Zander, 63, of Great Falls, Montana was sentenced Friday in federal court in Great Falls, Montana, for criminal conduct resulting in a tax debt of over one million dollars.

In a sentencing memo filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad Spraker, the government told the court that from 2002 to 2010 the defendant, James Zander, evaded his 2001 tax liability through several means, including filing a return filled with zeros and funneling income from his dental practice to a various entities. Zander also obstructed IRS collection efforts by sending notices and demands to government employees and filing a frivolous lawsuit against an IRS Revenue Agent. Zander also failed to file legitimate tax returns for the 2002 to 2009 tax years, incurring a total tax debt of over $1 million.

Zander last filed a legitimate individual income tax return for the 2000 tax year. He then told his tax return preparer that he found a method for not filing his tax returns. The preparer warned Zander on multiple occasions that he should be filing. Zander's tax preparer prepared a 2001 individual income tax return and a Form 1120S for Zander's solely owned corporation, Dental Care of Great Falls. Zander did not file the individual 2001 return but did sign and file the corporate return.

On February 20, 2002, Zander formed Solid Rock Partners, LP; on July 16, 2003, he formed Royal Priesthood Society (RPS), a corporation sole; and on June 10, 2008, he formed American Humanitarian Project another corporation sole. Zander opened bank accounts for RPS, Rock Solid, and American Humanitarian Project. From 2002 to 2009, Zander purchased five parcels of land in the name of Solid Rock Partners and RPS. Zander maintained two bank accounts for Dental Care.

On February 17, 2004, Zander filed a 2001 individual income tax return listing zeros in each section for his income, adjusted gross income, and tax liability. The return requested a $27,131 refund for the amount he had withheld. He also attached a two-page document espousing tax defier arguments. In later years Zander either filed a return filled in with zeros or no return at all.

In July 2004, the IRS sent Zander a letter informing him that his 2001 return was frivolous and warned him of the consequences of not paying his taxes. Based upon the 2001 Form 1120S for Dental Care, a W-2 issued to Zander, and other documents received by the IRS, the IRS assessed Zander's 2001 tax liability at $100,972.81 total liability as of March 10, 2010. In May 2006, the IRS again warned him of the consequences of failing to pay his taxes.

In December 2007 and January 2008, the IRS issued notice of levies to Zander with respect to his bank accounts at Stockman Bank. In response, Zander sent letters to Stockman Bank asserting that the levies were unlawful and he is not subject to taxation. After the IRS collected approximately $2,000 from the levies, Zander closed the accounts.

On October 23, 2009, and November 2, 2009, Zander sent the U.S. Treasury Secretary two $300 million "Private Indemnity Bonds" purporting to offset his pre-existing and future liabilities. The IRS placed liens on Zander's property at the Cascade County Clerk and Recorder's Office. An IRS Revenue Officer delivered three letters to Zander warning of IRS collection for 2001 and 2005. Zander responded with an October 19, 2009, letter espousing tax defier arguments. The following month, Zander sent the officer a document making a claim against Murray for several million dollars.

Zander made approximately $2.9 million in unreported income from 2001 to 2009.