George “Nick” Jesson was sentenced to three years in prison yesterday for filing false state tax returns between 1997 and 1999. The former tax protester and gubernatorial candidate had earlier pleaded guilty.
Prosecutor Bill Overtoom, quoted in the Orange County Register, said, “He just put plain zeros everywhere [on his returns].” Jesson evaded about $238,000 in taxes.
Jesson is no stranger to prison; he’s currently serving a 27-month sentence for not paying federal taxes of $215,000. The new sentence will be served concurrently with the federal sentence.
Jesson’s wife Trina has also been charged with tax evasion. Her next court date is August 11.
As we’ve said before, putting all zeros on your return has zero chance of success (when you really owe tax).