Local Plumber Failed To Pay More Than $67,000 In Federal Taxes

            ATLANTA, GA - JAMES J. GUINN, 45, of Monroe, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Willis B. Hunt, Jr. to serve 1 year, 3 months in federal prison on charges of failing to file federal income tax returns.

            “James Guinn was a successful businessman who enjoyed all the benefits of living in this great country, but who was unwilling to pay his share for the opportunities and privileges that come with being a United States citizen,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates.  “The overwhelming majority of people pay their taxes, and we will continue to prosecute the few who shirk their responsibility to file tax returns.”

            IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Reginael McDaniel said, “Taxpayers fall out of the system for many reasons, but the intentional failure to file your tax return is a federal crime.  While taxpayers have the right to contest their tax liabilities, they don t have the right to violate and disobey the tax laws.”   

             GUINN was sentenced to 1 year, 3 months in prison to be followed 6 months of community confinement as part of 1 year of supervised release. He was also fined $20,000 and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $67,513. GUINN was convicted of these charges on March 23, 2011 after a trial.

            According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court:  GUINN was a plumber who owned his own business, Bulldog Plumbing.  Between 2003 and 2006, GUINN earned adjusted gross income of more than $350,984, yet he filed no federal income tax returns.  Instead, GUINN adopted the legally unsupported, anti-tax beliefs of the group “American Rights Litigators.”

            GUINN was informed multiple times by representatives of the IRS that his anti-tax positions and arguments were not valid.  Nevertheless, GUINN ignored the warnings and refused to file tax returns.  If GUINN had filed tax returns for the years 2003-2006, he would have owed approximately $67,513, which he must now pay as restitution to the IRS.

            This law enforcement action is part of President Barack Obama's Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force.

President Obama established the interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes.  The task force includes representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and civil enforcement resources. The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch, and with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets, and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes.

            This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service.

            Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Bly and former Assistant United States Attorney David McClernan prosecuted the case.

            For further information please contact Sally Q. Yates, United States Attorney, or Charysse L. Alexander, Executive Assistant United States Attorney, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney's Office, at (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.justice.gov/usao/gan.

 

 

 

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