Liens are useful legal devices. They are rightly used when someone owes another party money, so that property or other collateral is attached. Of course, if there’s a right way there’s also a wrong way. Today, we’re going to look at the wrong way.
Imagine you’ve been accused by the US Department of Justice of conspiracy to defraud the IRS. Now, you and I would get the best legal advice we could, but different methods appeal to the Bozo mind. Mark D. Leitner was so accused, and his method could lead himself to an award. First, from today’s DOJ press release:
During that jury trial and after the jury returned the guilty verdict, Leitner publicly filed false maritime liens against the property of the prosecutors, investigators and court personnel involved in the criminal trial. The liens falsely claimed that Leitner was owed $48.489 billion from each individual. On five of the seven false liens, Leitner publicly disclosed individuals’ correct Social Security numbers and other personal identifying information. Leitner also filed and mailed numerous harassing and frivolous documents to the courts and personnel involved in this case.
Mr. Leitner received five years at ClubFed for the conspiracy charge (as noted in the press release, he was found guilty); he’s looking at up to 13 years on these charges — he pleaded guilty to them today. Needless to say, this was an incredibly bozo act. But he did show some chutzpah: At $48.489 billion a piece, he could have made some money if there was a way of collecting….
On the bright side, I am looking for candidates for the Tax Offender of the Year, and I now have at least one entry.