Tyler County man indicted for tax violations

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Roger Lee Stevens, of Middlebourne, West Virginia, is facing tax fraud charges, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Stevens, 62, was indicted on one count of “Corrupt Endeavor to Obstruct or Impede the Due Administration of the Internal Revenue Laws,” one count of “Failure to Pay Income Tax,” and one count of “Failure to File Income Tax Return.”  Stevens is accused of failing to pay income taxes from 2005 to 2009. The IRS issued a notice to Stevens, and later to Stevens’ bank, that his assets would be levied to pay the debt owed to the IRS. As the IRS began directing the bank to turn over funds in Stevens’ account, it is alleged that Stevens began removing funds from the account to impede the IRS from collecting the $22,066 debt. Stevens is also accused of failing to pay income tax for 2016, as well as failing to file an income tax return for 2018.

Stevens faces up to three years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the corruption count and faces up to one year of incarceration and a fine of up to $100,000 for the other two counts. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Danae DeMasi-Lemon is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The IRS investigated.

An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.