Vicksburg lawyer Marshall Sanders pleads guilty

[Judge Roy Bean]

http://www.fortmilltimes.com/124/story/366296.html

Sanders was indicted in May on three counts alleging that he failed to file taxes from 2000-2002. The government claimed Sanders grossed nearly $3.4 million in those years.

He apparently went with a misdemeanor guilty plea to save his license.

[Dr. Caligari]

Not familiar with this character. Was he a TP? Or just a run-of-the-mill non-filer?

[Judge Roy Bean]

One source indicated he hadn't filed since 1994.

[Doktor Avalanche]

It's a simple mistake - you get into a groove and the next thing you know it's been 14 years since you paid your taxes.

Happens to the best of us.

[Doktor Avalanche]

It's a simple mistake - you get into a groove and the next thing you know it's been 14 years since you paid your taxes.

Happens to the best of us.

For me it was being a big porn star in the 1980s.........

Yes, I remember your work - "Romancing The Bone".

[wserra]

For me it was being a big porn star in the 1980s.........

Awright, awright: how big?

[Prof]

For me it was being a big porn star in the 1980s.........

Awright, awright: how big?

He was just inches away ............. from true greatness.

[Prof]

On a different note, we just filed bankruptcy for a businessman (self employed in the restaurant business) who had to file returns from '94 forward. The Service had finally caught up with him and had levied on about $200k. As you folks said, he just got in a groove of not filing and suddenly it was 2008.

[Mr. Mephistopheles]

It's a simple mistake - you get into a groove and the next thing you know it's been 14 years since you paid your taxes.

Happens to the best of us.

For me it was being a big porn star in the 1980s.........

Yes, I remember your work - "Romancing The Bone".

And here I thought that Ron Jeremy was living in New Jersey writing children's books, only to find out he's a financial adviser in S. Cali.

[webhick]

On a different note, we just filed bankruptcy for a businessman (self employed in the restaurant business) who had to file returns from '94 forward. The Service had finally caught up with him and had levied on about $200k. As you folks said, he just got in a groove of not filing and suddenly it was 2008.

Damn, you beat me. Best I had was a business who didn't file from '96 forward and we caught him up in 2006. All in all, he owed over $150k including interest and penalties. No bankruptcy and he's only got less than a year left on the payments.

[Demosthenes]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TAX
TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2009 (202) 514-2007
http://WWW.USDOJ.GOV TDD (202) 514-1888

MISSISSIPPI LAWYER SENTENCED TO 18 MONTHS IN PRISON
FOR FAILURE TO FILE TAX RETURNS
Vicksburg Resident Failed to Report More than $2.5 Million in Income

WASHINGTON – Marshall E. Sanders, an attorney based in Vicksburg, Miss., was sentenced to 18 months in prison for failure to file tax returns by Magistrate Judge James C. Sumner, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. In addition, Judge Sumner ordered Sanders to pay restitution to the IRS of $1,025,453.
In November 2008, Sanders pleaded guilty to failing to file tax returns for years 2001 and 2002. According to the formal charging information and the court’s findings at sentencing, Sanders earned gross income of over $2 million in 2001 and almost $500,000 in 2002. Moreover, Sanders failed to file individual income tax returns since 1995 and owed over $1.4 million in taxes to the IRS.
As part of his plea agreement, Sanders agreed to cooperate with the IRS in making a correct determination of his income tax liabilities for years 1995 through the present and to file complete and accurate tax returns for those years.

“As the tax filing deadline approaches, individuals are reminded that the failure to file tax returns can have serious legal consequences,” said Ronald A. Cimino, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Criminal Matters for the Justice Department’s Tax Division. “The Department of Justice and IRS continue to protect the U.S. Treasury and the interests of honest taxpayers by prosecuting those who willfully violate our tax laws.”
“Failing to file an income tax return is not a victimless crime, and all Americans have a duty to pay their fair share,” stated Michael J. De Palma, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, New Orleans Field Office. “Honest, hardworking Americans pay the price when others choose not to file their tax returns and pay their tax obligations. Special Agents of IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to work with the Justice Department in an effort to protect the public's confidence in our tax system. If you suspect someone of committing fraud, do the right thing - contact your local IRS office.”
In accordance with the plea agreement, the Government moved to dismiss the indictment which was filed against Sanders in May 2008.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Cimino commended the IRS special agents who investigated the case, as well as Tax Division trial attorneys Kevin Lombardi and Michelle Petersen who prosecuted the case.

More information about the Justice Department’s Tax Division and its enforcement efforts is available at http://www.usdoj.gov/tax/.