Anadarko Man Pleads Guilty To Filing False Return

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - On June 5, 2013, RANDEL L. STONE, 43, of Anadarko, Oklahoma, pled guilty to making a false statement on a Federal income tax return, announced Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.

On May 13, 2013, Stone was charged in a one-count Information with filing a false federal income tax return because he received substantially more income than he reported on his return.

In 2007 and 2008, Stone owned and operated a business called A Plus, Inc. which did chemical spraying on trees and lawns. At today’s plea hearing, Stone admitted that his 2008 federal tax return was false because he did not report more than $100,000 that he should have claimed as income on the return. Stone further admitted that the income he did not report was money paid to A Plus from Public Service Company of Oklahoma ("PSO").

At sentencing, Stone faces up to three years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. As part of a plea agreement, Stone has agreed to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of his criminal conduct. The court will determine the specific amount of restitution due to the IRS at sentencing, which will take place in approximately 90 days. Also, as part of a plea agreement, Stone agreed to pay restitution to PSO in the amount of $290,000. That amount reflects the remaining balance of a civil judgment entered against Stone, based on PSO’s claims that Stone obtained money through false A Plus invoices.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney, Chris M. Stephens.