Jury Convicts Canal Winchester Man Of Filing False Income Tax Return

COLUMBUS, OHIO – A U.S. District Court jury here has convicted William David Taylor, Sr., 50, of Canal Winchester, Ohio of two counts of filing false federal income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio and Kathy A. Enstrom, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office announced the verdict returned July 10 following a trial that began July 1 before U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley.

Testimony presented during the trial showed that Taylor filed false federal income tax returns with the IRS for 2006 and 2007.  The 2006 income tax return showed total income in the amount of $51,967, and the 2007 income tax return showed total income in the amount of $33,272.  Evidence showed that the total income Taylor earned in 2006 and 2007 substantially exceeded the amounts he claimed.

During 2006 and 2007 Taylor operated a construction consulting business.  An important part of his business involved convincing landowners to engage him in development projects that would involve both investors as well as individuals who would purchase plots and receive construction loans to build houses.  Taylor served as the general contractor and, as such, established business bank accounts that he controlled in order to develop the properties and build the houses. 

Additionally, Taylor contracted with others who wished to retain him to build individual homes separate from the development projects.  Evidence presented during the trial showed that funds from those investors and other persons flowed into Taylor’s construction consulting business accounts and were frequently spent on personal items and activities such as vacations, private schools for Taylor’s children and significant renovations to his home.  Taylor did not complete any of the projects or houses, and failed to pay the money back to the investors and those persons who had trusted him to follow through on their home-building plans.  An IRS representative calculated that Taylor had failed to report on his federal income tax returns approximately $110,000 in income for 2006 and $189,000 for 2007.

Funds received and used personally as income must be reported as income on the tax returns of the recipients of that money. Filing a false federal income tax return with the IRS is punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Judge Marbley will schedule a date for sentencing.

Stewart commended the investigation conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Brown, who is representing the United States in the case.