A state grand jury in Las Vegas, Nevada, today filed charges against a Las Vegas couple accusing the IRS of defrauding the IRS, tax evasion, filing a false tax return, assisting with filing false tax returns, and failing to file to accuse tax returns and pay federal income taxes.
According to allegations in the indictment, Scott H. Lawrence, a real estate professional, and Debra R. Lawrence, owner of an interior design company, conspired to hide their income and true financial position from the eyes of the IRS and the IRS from at least 2005 through at least 2020 To hinder efforts by the IRS to collect their unpaid tax liabilities. As part of the plan, Scott and Debra Lawrence allegedly submitted false documents to the IRS, including false tax returns and statements seeking information that underestimated their true income. The indictment goes on to claim that Scott and Debra Lawrence attempted to evade payment of tax owed for the 2005-2010 tax years by cashing significant portions of paychecks, thereby thwarting IRS levies and collections, and that they deliberately did not Paid taxes for the 2014 tax years through 2018. Overall, Scott and Debra Lawrence reportedly caused the IRS a tax loss of approximately $ 1,758,128.
Scott and Debra Lawrence are expected to appear before U.S. District Court Judge Youchah for the Nevada District on August 11, 2021. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States and for any case of tax evasion; three years in prison for filing a false tax return and assisting in filing false tax returns; and one year in prison for failing to file a tax return and failing to pay income tax. A federal district court judge will determine each sentence based on U.S. sentencing guidelines and other legal factors.
This was announced by Assistant Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Department and acting US Attorney General Christopher Chiou for the Nevada District.
The IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating this case.
Attorneys Valerie Preiss and Patrick Burns from the Department of Justice’s tax department are following the case.
An indictment is just an accusation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven beyond doubt in a court of law.
