Posted on 12/14/2002 4:05:53 PM PST by Libertarianize the GOP
12.13.02 IRS arrests man, woman in fraud scam
By AARON PORTER The Daily Sentinel
MONTROSE — A couple whose home was searched in Eckert last year during a raid on purveyors of what the Internal Revenue Service labeled "fake trusts" are in custody under an 87-count federal indictment.
James Moran, 54, and his wife, Pamela, 41, were charged along with eight other defendants associated with Anderson's Ark & Associates on charges of conspiracy, filing false tax returns, wire fraud and mail fraud, the IRS reported.
The couple was arrested Tuesday as they were preparing to board a plane at Montrose Regional Airport, said Agent John Harrison of the IRS office in Grand Junction.
The indictment was issued the same day by a federal grand jury in Seattle, he said.
"Those attempting to illegally evade U.S. income tax through the use of so-called tax-haven countries will find they are not beyond the arm of the IRS. Promoters and clients of international evasion schemes can continue to expect scrutiny and enforcement by the IRS and the Department of Justice," said David Palmer, chief of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
On Tuesday, federal agents arrested the Morans, Richard Grosnickle of Hoodsport, Wash., Tara Lagrand of Naples, Fla., Gary Kuzel of Woodbridge, Ill., and Lynden Bridges of Wheat Ridge. Keith Anderson, his brother Wayne Anderson, Richard Marks and Karolyn Grosnickle were already in federal custody.
The Morans were not at their home when the IRS searched it in March 2001 during a nationwide raid of Anderson's Ark and its top brass, the IRS has reported.
They were living in Montrose when the grand jury issued the indictment, Harrison said.
Anderson's Ark was founded by private rights advocate Keith Anderson, with main offices in Santa Ana, Calif.; Hoodsport, Wash., and Costa Rica. It had about 2,000 members and allegedly helped U.S. citizens dodge tax payments by hiding assets overseas.
The Morans were the executive education officers and chief informational officers for Anderson's Ark, the IRS reported. They were regular speakers at its seminars in the United States, Canada and Costa Rica.
A "Look Back Program" run by Anderson's Ark helped about 260 of its members to take $120 million in false income tax deductions from 1997 to 2001 — yielding about $43 million in lost tax, the IRS reported.
A second tax shelter — the "Look Forward Program" — helped members take deductions for money that was still available to them through debit cards, the IRS stated.
It alleges that the 10 defendants transferred about $30 million from accounts in the United States to Costa Rica through the scheme.
The Morans are also charged with Keith Anderson, Wayne Anderson, Marks and the Grosnickles for scheming to defraud Anderson's Ark members of fees for a "Tax Magic" financial planning program, the IRS stated.
The IRS is seeking forfeiture of the Morans' home at 13780 Larkspur Drive in Montrose and a 2000 Jeep. The indictment alleges the property was purchased with proceeds from the sales of "Tax Magic" investments.
{M4Aaron Porter can be reached via e-mail at aporter@gjds.com.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.