Ohio County Magistrate admits to tax fraud

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Ohio County Magistrate Harry A. Radcliffe, III, has admitted to tax fraud, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Radcliffe, age 60, pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Impede the Internal Revenue Service.” In tax years 2013, 2014, and 2015, Radcliffe accepted a total of approximately $22,000 in cash payments from William W. Seelbach, then owner of W&S Bail Bonding d/b/a A Bail Bonding by ABC (“ABC”), which payments were offered by Mr. Seelbach as bribes.  These payments were made and received in cash, at least in part, in an effort to impede the Internal Revenue Service in the collection of income taxes.  Radcliffe willfully failed to report this income to the Internal Revenue Service, resulting in a total tax loss of $5,500.00.  He also failed to report this extra-judicial income to the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.

As a part of the plea, Radcliffe has agreed to pay $5,500 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.

Radcliffe faces up to five years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarod J. Douglas and Shawn M. Adkins prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the West Virginia Commission on Special Investigations, and the West Virginia State Police investigated. 
 
Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr. presided.