D.C. Taxicab Driver Sentenced to Jail for Failing to File Federal and D.C. Tax Returns |
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Topics: Vincent Gray
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U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Columbia
January 12, 2011
WASHINGTON—A 66-year-old taxicab driver, Vincent Gray, was sentenced today to 30 days in jail and five months in community confinement for failing to file federal and District of Columbia tax returns, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., Rebecca A. Sparkman, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington D.C. Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, and District of Columbia Inspector General Charles J. Willoughby.
Gray pled guilty in October 2010 to one count of willful failure to file a federal return and one count of willful failure to make a D.C. return for failing to file federal or state tax returns during the years 2004-2006. He was sentenced by the Honorable Magistrate Judge John M. Facciola in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
As part of his plea agreement, Gray agreed to make restitution in the amount of $34,572 to the Internal Revenue Service.
According to the government’s evidence, Gray had gross income of at least $38,723 in 2004, at least $67,372 in 2005, and at least $52,763 in 2006. As such, Gray had gross income well above the minimum filing amount for each of those years. However, he failed to file any federal or D.C. returns by the filing deadlines for each of those years.
As noted by the court, Gray had not timely filed an income tax return since the 1992 tax year. According to the government’s evidence, Gray knew very well that he was required by law to file returns, but nevertheless failed to file them. As a result, Gray owed a combined total of $34,572 in federal and D.C. taxes for the three years in question.
The case was investigated by the Washington, D.C. Field Office of Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue, the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the Washington Field Office of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, and the D.C. Office of the Inspector General.
“The law is clear on the issue of taxable income and who is required to file and pay taxes; there is no gray area on the subject,” stated Special Agent in Charge Sparkman. “To maintain faith in our nation’s tax system, honest taxpayers need to be reassured that everyone is paying their fair share.”
In announcing today’s sentencing, U.S. Attorney Machen, Special Agent in Charge Sparkman, and Inspector General Willoughby praised the work of Special Agent Timothy Quinn and Revenue Agent Erin Edwards of Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and Special Agent Kevin Craddock of the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue, as well as others who worked on the case for other agencies. They also acknowledged the efforts of U.S. Attorney’s Office support staff personnel—Paralegal Specialist Diane Hayes, Legal Assistant Jamasee Lucas, and SEEP Student Sierra Tate—as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Zeno, who investigated the case, and Department of Justice Tax Division attorney Sean Delaney, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Friedman, who handled the prosecution and obtained the plea.