After being convicted in November of “tax evasion, corrupt interference with tax administration, and four counts of failure to file a tax return,” Arizona man Van Raymond Brollini, 70, was scheduled to be sentenced on January 29, 2020, according to a press release issued by the U.S. Department of Justice. Though the DOJ has yet to release updates on the outcome of his sentencing hearing, Brollini was facing, at the time of conviction, a sentence of up to five years in federal prison, which is the statutory maximum set forth in 26 U.S. Code § 7201 (attempt to evade or defeat tax). Our criminal tax defense attorneys will continue to follow this case as the DOJ releases new information.
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Former Engineer Convicted of Tax Fraud Owed Over $180K in Back Taxes
According to court records, Brollini, then living abroad, was charged with tax evasion in 2013. The same year, he was also indicted on charges of tax obstruction, or the corrupt interference with tax administration (26 U.S. Code § 7212), and failing to file returns (26 U.S. Code § 7203), which is a criminal act when willful, or intentional.
Following his arrest in Texas in 2017, Brollini was detained to ensure his appearance in court, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges. However, a federal jury disagreed, finding Brollini guilty following a trial before U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson in November 2019.
Court records show that Brollini, previously an engineer, reported no income to the Internal Revenue Service for a period of several years, despite earning a substantial salary during that time. In so doing, he also knowingly “evaded [the] payment of taxes from 2002 through 2004,” according to the DOJ, which also reported that Brollini “failed to file a return as required for four consecutive years.”
At the time of his indictment, Brollini owed the IRS approximately $186,000 in back taxes, which are unpaid or partially paid tax debts from previous years, such as unpaid income tax liabilities.
If you need help getting caught up on tax filings, contact our non-filer assistance attorneys for guidance – before you become the target of an IRS criminal tax investigation.
Despite owing more than $180,000 to the IRS, “Brollini ignored… [IRS] notices and set out a concerted endeavor to evade payment of taxes and to attempt to intimidate the IRS employees assigned to collect the taxes owed,” according to court documents.
Willful failure to file tax returns is a misdemeanor, subject to criminal fines of up to $25,000 (or $100,000 for corporations) and/or one year in prison (per count), in addition to civil penalties. Tax obstruction, or impeding the IRS, is a felony punishable by a sentence of up to three years in prison (per count). Tax evasion is the most serious among these offenses, carrying a maximum sentence of five years (per count).
Contact Our IRS Tax Attorneys for Help with Unfiled Back Taxes
Failing to file income tax returns, underreporting your income, or interfering with the IRS can lead to criminal charges. If you have been charged with tax crimes, require tax audit representation, need individual or small business tax preparation services, or have questions concerning another tax compliance issue, the Tax Law Office of David W. Klasing can provide assistance. Our team is comprised of tax evasion defense lawyers, IRS audit attorneys, and business tax attorneys supported by CPAs and EAs who combine more than 20 years of experience, enabling us to deliver the effective, award-winning service that distinguishes our firm. Contact us online right away to arrange a reduced rate consultation or call the Tax Law Office of David W. Klasing at (800) 681-1925 for immediate assistance.
Note: As long as a taxpayer that has willfully committed tax crimes self-reports the tax fraud (including a pattern of non-filed returns) through a domestic or offshore voluntary disclosure before the IRS has started an audit or criminal tax prosecution, the taxpayer can be successfully brought back into tax compliance and receive a nearly guaranteed pass on criminal tax prosecution and simultaneously receive a break on the civil penalties that would otherwise apply. It is imperative that you hire an experienced and reputable tax defense attorney to take you through the voluntary disclosure process. As uniquely qualified and extensively experienced Criminal Tax Defense Tax Attorneys, Kovel CPAs and EAs, our firm provides a one stop shop to efficiently achieve the optimal and predictable results. See our Testimonials to see what our clients have to say about us!
In addition to our staffed main offices in Irvine, the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing has unstaffed (conference room only) satellite offices in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Panorama City, Oxnard, San Diego, Bakersfield, San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, Carlsbad and Sacramento.
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