June 18, 2010
COLORADO SPRINGS MAN FOUND GUILTY OF FILING FALSE LIEN AGAINST IRS EMPLOYEE
DENVER – A jury in U.S. District Court in Denver yesterday found Ronald Roy Hoodenpyle, age 68, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, guilty of filing a false lien against an IRS employee, U.S. Attorney David Gaouette and Special Agent in Charge of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Denver Field Division, Greg Jaramillo announced. The three day jury trial was before U.S. District Court Judge Marcia S. Krieger. Hoodenpyle, who is free on bond, is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Krieger on September 17, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on January 6, 2009.
According to the indictment, as well as facts presented to the jury during trial, on April 2, 2008, the defendant, Ronald Roy Hoodenpyle, filed a false lien against the real property owned by an IRS Revenue Officer. The false lien was filed in Jefferson County, Colorado, and stated that the Revenue Officer owed the defendant in excess of $1,000,000. Hoodenpyle knew that this statement was false.
Also during the trial, the prosecution played a videotape of an interview of Hoodenpyle in which he stated that he did not owe any income tax. It was then revealed that the IRS had filed liens against Hoodenpyle’s property stating that he owed the IRS over $1,160,000. The government presented evidence that the defendant filed the false lien in retaliation for the IRS Revenue Officer’s performing his professional duties.
Hoodenpyle faces not more than 10 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gain or loss from the offense. He could also be ordered to pay restitution to the IRS.
“Paying income tax is the responsibility of every single American,” said U.S. Attorney David Gaouette. “If you intentionally evade paying taxes, there will be civil and criminal consequences. In this instance, the consequence is a potential federal prison sentence.”
“I am very pleased with the guilty verdict,” said Greg Jaramillo, Special Agent in Charge of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Denver Field Division. “This should send a strong message to those individuals who would use intimidation and harassment against IRS employees to attempt to impede tax administration.”
The defendant is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Kirsch.
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