Earlier this year I posted about a complex tax fraud case out of Salt Lake City. Several individuals were accused of helping various other individuals and businesses evade about $20 million in taxes. Three pleaded guilty. One of those who chose to go to trial (and was found guilty), Sandy, Utah attorney Dennis Evanson found out his fate on Friday. The judge sentenced him to 10 years at ClubFed, and he must forfeit his Hummer, Toyota Tundra, four pieces of property, and pay $2.7 million in fines. Mr. Evanson had been found guilty of mail fraud, wire fraud, tax evasion, and assisting in preparation of false tax returns.
The scheme the conspirators used had the usual trappings: foreign entities (in this case, on the Cayman Islands), foreign bank accounts, and fraudulent transactions. During the trial testimony revealed that the conspirators kept 30% of the tax saved.
If you happen to have utilized the services of Mr. Evanson or one of his co-conspirators, you will likely receive a “Dear Valued Taxpayer” letter from the IRS. It appears that the tax you “saved” is more like a mirage.