Taxable Talk

That’s one of my favorite lines from one of my favorite movies, North by Northwest. In that classic movie, Cary Grant’s character gets drunk and, well, I’ll be giving away some of the movie if I went on. In any case, his mother (in the movie) says the line, in perfect comedic tempo, “Just pay the five dollars.” Since the Oscars are being televised as I write this a movie reference seems apropos.

Similarly, most tax evaders (and tax deniers) would find their lives far, far easier if they just paid the tax in the first place. One Massachusetts dentist is accused of a long-running scheme that allegedly used many of the normal tricks to avoid paying taxes.

George Fenzell is the accused dentist. He allegedly began, in 1999, to not pay taxes; he allegedly used nominees to conceal receipts. He supposedly comingled funds with others and made some nominees own his business (which, according to the indictment, Mr. Fenzell does own).

Back in 2007 the Massachusetts Department of Revenue was investigating; the indictment alleges that this caused Mr. Fenzell to file his 2000 through 2005 tax returns. Those returns showed tax due of $129,000 which had grown to over $300,000 when you factor in interest and penalties. Meanwhile, the IRS couldn’t collect; the indictment alleges he continued to use cash and nominees to evade the IRS.

Mr. Fenzell is looking at a lengthy stay at ClubFed if found guilty.

A perfect place. That’s what comes to my mind when I hear the word “utopia.”

Vincent and Mary Giamo had a different idea; Utopia was their nightclub in Orchard Park, New York (near Buffalo). It was quite successful as they followed a formula that is illegal but helps with taxes: They kept two sets of books. One set was accurate, and showed they would owe $1.2 million in taxes to the IRS. The other set shockingly showed they didn’t owe that money. This scheme works quite well…until you’re caught.

And the Giamos were caught, tried, and convicted of tax evasion charges. Vincent received 12 months at ClubFed; his wife, Mary, received probation. They must also make restitution of another $671,840 to the IRS (they’ve already paid $550,000). They are also facing civil charges.

As usual, it’s a whole lot easier to just pay your taxes in the first place…but that though rarely occurs to the Bozo mind.

There’s tax evasion, big tax evasion, and then we have this story of really, really big tax evasion. And we also must highlight once again that tax protester arguments have as much chance of flying as the dodo bird.

I’ve actually written about this case before. Back in 2010 Bill Melot, a farmer in New Mexico, was convicted of tax evasion, agriculture program fraud, and several related offenses. His tax liability to the IRS was estimated at $18 million. When he was sentenced in 2011 he received five years at ClubFed followed by three years of supervised release. Mr. Melot appealed his conviction; the government appealed the sentence. The DOJ thought he should receive a far longer stay at ClubFed.

Last October the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on the appeals. Suffice to say it didn’t go well for Mr. Melot. Here’s a pertinent excerpt:

The Government’s evidence demonstrated overwhelmingly that Melot engaged in behavior consistent with an individual who had actual knowledge of his obligation to file returns and pay tax. Melot paid employees in cash, advising them they could avoid reporting the cash payments as income. He attempted to pay cash for inventory for his gas stations, in an effort to avoid creating a paper trail in his bank account. He used Social Security numbers he knew were false for numerous purposes. He transferred substantial assets into a foreign bank account but failed to file the necessary disclosure forms with the IRS. He frequently made domestic bank deposits in amounts slightly below $10,000, the amount at which he knew a bank must file a currency transaction report with the Internal Revenue Service. He transferred assets to corporations and trusts and used nominees to open bank accounts, but admitted he maintained control over the assets associated with these accounts and entities. He sent letters to the Internal Revenue Service denying he was a United States citizen or claiming to be either a non-resident alien or a citizen of the “republic of New Mexico.” Nonetheless, when he applied for a passport from the State Department and agricultural farm subsidies from the Department of Agriculture, Melot declared he was a United States citizen.

Both Mr. Melot and the DOJ didn’t like the sentence. Mr. Melot thought it was too long; the DOJ though it was too short. The sentencing judge had given Mr. Melot a two-level decrease (in the federal sentencing guidelines) for acceptance of responsibility. There was a problem with this according to the Court of Appeals:

…nor did [Melot] engage in any other conduct demonstrating an acceptance of responsibility for his offenses…To the contrary, the record clearly shows Melot continued to deny that he willfully engaged in criminal conduct and unambiguously shows Melot did not voluntarily pay restitution.

The Court of Appeals ordered a new sentencing hearing, with no downward adjustment in federal sentencing guidelines. It was not Mr. Melot’s day at the Court of Appeals.

The sentencing hearing occurred last week, and Mr. Melot’s five years at ClubFed lengthened to 14 years at ClubFed. The restitution hasn’t changed: $18,469,998 to the IRS and $226,526 to the Department of Agriculture.

Mr. Melot apparently believed that tax protester arguments (see the Tax Protester FAQ for a complete dismissal of each and every one of them) work. They don’t. Mr. Melot will have plenty of time to think that through.