March 25, 2004
Federal jury in Las Vegas indicts anti-tax author Irwin Schiff
The war on dissent continues.
LAS VEGAS (AP) - A federal grand jury indicted anti-tax author Irwin Schiff and two associates Wednesday, charging them with conspiracy to defraud the United States by helping others file false tax returns. Schiff, the author of "The Federal Mafia: How It Illegally Imposes and Unlawfully Collects Income Taxes," argues there is no legal requirement to pay income taxes. Government lawyers have been pursuing civil actions that would bar Schiff from selling his book and from holding tax seminars.
"There is no magic way out of paying taxes," said Eileen O'Connor, assistant U.S. attorney general for the tax division in Washington, D.C.
The 33-count indictment issued in Las Vegas charges Schiff, Cynthia Neun and Lawrence Cohen with aiding and assisting in the preparation and filing of fraudulent tax returns. Schiff and Cohen also were charged with tax evasion. Neun will face
additional charges of willfully failing to file federal income tax returns, Social Security disability fraud and theft of government property.
If convicted, Schiff faces a maximum sentence totaling 43 years in prison and $3.25 million in fines. Neun, Schiff's girlfriend who helps him conduct seminars, could receive a 51-year sentence and $3.4 million in fines, and Cohen faces a maximum 27 years and $1.5 million in fines.
"The indictment today reminds us that fulfilling individual tax obligations is a legal requirement and those who willfully evade that responsibility will be prosecuted," said Nancy Jardini, who oversees criminal investigations for the Internal Revenue Service.
Schiff, 76, said he will file a motion to dismiss. "At my arraignment, I will plead guilty to all the charges if they can show me a law in the code that says persons earning income are liable for income taxes," Schiff said.
LAS VEGAS (AP) - A federal grand jury indicted anti-tax author Irwin Schiff and two associates Wednesday, charging them with conspiracy to defraud the United States by helping others file false tax returns. Schiff, the author of "The Federal Mafia: How It Illegally Imposes and Unlawfully Collects Income Taxes," argues there is no legal requirement to pay income taxes. Government lawyers have been pursuing civil actions that would bar Schiff from selling his book and from holding tax seminars.
"There is no magic way out of paying taxes," said Eileen O'Connor, assistant U.S. attorney general for the tax division in Washington, D.C.
The 33-count indictment issued in Las Vegas charges Schiff, Cynthia Neun and Lawrence Cohen with aiding and assisting in the preparation and filing of fraudulent tax returns. Schiff and Cohen also were charged with tax evasion. Neun will face
additional charges of willfully failing to file federal income tax returns, Social Security disability fraud and theft of government property.
If convicted, Schiff faces a maximum sentence totaling 43 years in prison and $3.25 million in fines. Neun, Schiff's girlfriend who helps him conduct seminars, could receive a 51-year sentence and $3.4 million in fines, and Cohen faces a maximum 27 years and $1.5 million in fines.
"The indictment today reminds us that fulfilling individual tax obligations is a legal requirement and those who willfully evade that responsibility will be prosecuted," said Nancy Jardini, who oversees criminal investigations for the Internal Revenue Service.
Schiff, 76, said he will file a motion to dismiss. "At my arraignment, I will plead guilty to all the charges if they can show me a law in the code that says persons earning income are liable for income taxes," Schiff said.
use rss for Tax Tyranny
