Posted on 10/24/2005 8:29:47 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Anti-tax crusader Irwin Schiff and an associate were found guilty Monday of charges including conspiracy, tax evasion and tax fraud that could get each of them decades in federal prison and millions of dollars in fines.
Schiff, 77, who argues that paying taxes is voluntary, was handcuffed and led from U.S. District Court after a jury found him guilty of all 13 charges.
"There's no reason to put me in jail," Schiff told Judge Kent Dawson, whose patience was tested while Schiff served as his own lawyer during the five-week trial.
"I'm not a flight risk. I would much rather use the time to prepare an appeal," said Schiff, author of books with titles referring to a "federal tax mafia" and the "income tax hoax."
The judge could sentence Schiff to up to 43 years in prison and up to $3.25 million in fines, plus unspecified sanctions for outbursts during the trial. He ordered Schiff jailed without bond until sentencing Jan. 20.
Co-defendant Cynthia Neun, 52, was found guilty of 15 of 16 charges, including conspiracy, tax evasion, aiding in the filing of fraudulent tax returns, Social Security disability fraud and theft of government property. She faces up to 50 years in prison and $3.3 million in fines.
Dawson set Neun's sentencing for Jan. 27, and ordered her jailed pending a bail hearing Tuesday.
Attorney Michael Cristalli said Neun will appeal.
"This case is fraught with error," Cristalli said outside court. Neun should have been tried separately, he said.
Another co-defendant, Lawrence Cohen, 65, was convicted of one count of aiding in the filing of fraudulent tax returns and acquitted on three other counts of the same charge, and of conspiracy.
He said he felt vindicated.
"I feel bad for Irwin and Cindy," added Cohen, who faces up to three years in prison.
Schiff contends that the federal tax code doesn't require taxpayers to pay income tax. He disputes the government's definition of income, and argues that the Internal Revenue Service has no authority to seize property.
He promoted his theories in lectures, radio appearances and books, including "The Federal Mafia: How the Government Illegally Imposes and Unlawfully Collects Income Taxes" and "The Great Income Tax Hoax: Why You Can Immediately Stop Paying This Illegally Enforced Tax."
The government obtained an injunction banning Schiff, Cohen and Neun from selling the books and tax advice at Schiff's Las Vegas business, Freedom Books.
Federal prosecutors portrayed Schiff as con man who scammed people into believing they could dodge their tax liability. They said the scheme was responsible for nearly 5,000 tax returns that fraudulently reported no income and cost the government about $56 million from 1999 to 2001.
The government said Schiff failed to report income on federal tax returns from 1987 to 2002, and evaded payment of $1.3 million in taxes, penalties and interest from 1979 to 1985.
Schiff was convicted in 1980 of two counts of failure to file income tax returns and in 1985 of three counts of tax evasion and one of failure to file. He was imprisoned for a total of four years.
...which means the fedguv thinks he's a lot more dangerous than murderers and rapists, whom they let out on bond.
I read a book on the IRS and the author said if you don't pay income taxes keep your big mouth shut.
It is voluntary. You can elect to do it if you choose to stay out of jail.
This guy cost the feds a whole 56 mil.
My God, how are we ever going to be able to pay for all those things named after Robt. Byrd in West Va.?
The Horror! The Horror!
What this poor sap doesn't realize is that it doesn't matter if you have the Constitution and the entire US Code on your side. That all just a bunch of meaningless, hot air.
The other side has the courts, the jack-booted thugs, and most of all, the guns, on their side, they will do whatever they please.
Try holding back a nickel and ignoring them, they will eventually come for you with guns.
Interesting. Thanks for posting.
It's amazing the difference between the government's attitude...
... on the one hand, advocate nonpayment of taxes and you go to jail for decades.
... on the other, advocate slaughter of the infidels (aka terrorism) and you are federally protected.
Interesting to see where the priorities really are.
Anybody that doesn't believe all Law "Enforcement" just comes down to the old dollar has never been arrested.
I have been charged with everything but electricity, and convicted of very little. However, for what it cost me I could have had five full time strippers in a suite at the Waldorf Astoria for two weeks.
"Schiff served as his own lawyer'
He had a fool for a client
"...which means the fedguv thinks he's a lot more dangerous than murderers and rapists, whom they let out on bond."
Well of course he is, to Uncle Sam's bottomless pockets that is. How can we continue to pay for the excesses of both parties and their special interests if we don't milk all the kittens, sheep, and surf bone dry? You can rest assured that the government will use their propaganda arm (TV) to promote this as the final act of defiance. They will suggest that we all join in lock-step or we could spend the rest of our lives in jail.
This year my two youngest had to be extorted for the first time (ages 12 & 14) they both owed $105, which we paid at the August extension deadline. In two weeks we received a letter from the IRS stating how we owed $2.65 in penalties, a one time $100 penalty for late payment and $4.15 in taxes on the penalties. Which meant for only $106.80 more we could pay off the $105 debt we already paid. On the back of the form letter it stated in clear text that tax filing and payment was voluntary, but non-compliance was subject to fines, penalties, taxes, loss of property and possibly jail time.
Thank you Uncle Sam for being there for me as a law abiding citizen of the state of Utah.
Fortunately after several calls to incompetent people with IQ’s lower than the average room temperature on a January morning in Montana, I was able to get a first time filers ambiance and dismissal of the $100 penalty, and the additional taxes, but did have to write a check for the penalty at $2.65. It took at least three hours of their time on the phones, three letters from the IRS, and an equal amount of my time to generate an additional $5.30 revenue for the IRS. Now that is government efficiency at its evil best.
What an idiot. He had to know he was going to lose. He could have enjoyed his sunset years traveling around this great country.
Schiff did hard time for tax evasion back in the 80s. I read his book, "The Fleecing of America". He is a tax rebel and I guess he did not learn not to screw with the big dogs. BAck he goes.
"It's amazing the difference between the government's attitude...
... on the one hand, advocate nonpayment of taxes and you go to jail for decades.
... on the other, advocate slaughter of the infidels (aka terrorism) and you are federally protected.
Interesting to see where the priorities really are."
Not surprising though. Government is like a drug addict and tax payer money is the drug. Do anything to get between the addict and the drug and you are in trouble.
I thought the same thing! IF the gubmint dont get 65%, you go to jail.
Here is a blast from the past for ya:
In 1978 Larry Singleton raped and choppped off the arms of a 15 year old girl name Mary Vincent. This took place in California. He served about 8 1/2 years in prison.
Judicial system my butt.
Judicial stupidity
Unfortunately, taxes are the only common obligation citizens have to society anymore.
It's not as common as one would hope, either.
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