Reader: “TIM TURNER INDICTED FOR TAX CRIMES”
(Thanks, A.
Reader A. sends us the link to this item at justice.gov:
http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2012/September/12-tax-1126.html
Note that it expressly states, “An indictment merely alleges that a crime has been committed, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
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Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Self-Proclaimed “President” of Sovereign Citizen Group Indicted for Tax Crimes
A federal grand jury in Montgomery, Ala., charged James Timothy
Turner, also known as Tim Turner, with conspiracy to defraud the United
States, attempting to pay taxes with fictitious financial instruments,
attempting to obstruct and impede the Internal Revenue Service (IRS),
failing to file a 2009 federal income tax return and falsely testifying
under oath in a bankruptcy proceeding, the Justice Department, the IRS,
and the FBI announced today.
According to the indictment, Turner, the self-proclaimed “President” of the sovereign citizen group “Republic for the united States of America,” conducted seminars at which he taught attendees how to file retaliatory liens against government officials and to defraud the IRS by preparing and submitting fictitious bonds to the United States government in payment of federal taxes. Turner is alleged to have attempted to pay his own taxes with a fictitious $300 million bond and to have assisted others in attempting to pay their taxes with fictitious bonds purporting to be worth amounts ranging from $10 million to $100 billion.
An indictment merely alleges that a crime has been committed, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Turner faces a maximum of 164 years in federal prison, a maximum fine of $2,350,000 and mandatory restitution.
This case was investigated by special agents of the FBI and IRS – Criminal Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Justin Gelfand of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Middle District of Alabama Assistant U.S. Attorney Gray Borden.
According to the indictment, Turner, the self-proclaimed “President” of the sovereign citizen group “Republic for the united States of America,” conducted seminars at which he taught attendees how to file retaliatory liens against government officials and to defraud the IRS by preparing and submitting fictitious bonds to the United States government in payment of federal taxes. Turner is alleged to have attempted to pay his own taxes with a fictitious $300 million bond and to have assisted others in attempting to pay their taxes with fictitious bonds purporting to be worth amounts ranging from $10 million to $100 billion.
An indictment merely alleges that a crime has been committed, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Turner faces a maximum of 164 years in federal prison, a maximum fine of $2,350,000 and mandatory restitution.
This case was investigated by special agents of the FBI and IRS – Criminal Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Justin Gelfand of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Middle District of Alabama Assistant U.S. Attorney Gray Borden.
12-1126
Tax Division
