Tim Turner- Sentenced to Federal Prison for Promoting Tax Fraud Scheme, President of Sovereign Citizen Group

Posted By: Susoni [Send E-Mail]
Date: Friday, 2-Aug-2013 17:33:13

Self-Proclaimed President
of Sovereign Citizen Group Sentenced to Federal Prison for Promoting Tax Fraud
Scheme
U.S. Department of Justice July 31, 2013

Office of Public Affairs
(202) 514-2007/TDD (202) 514-1888
http://www.fbi.gov/mobile/press-releases/2013/self-proclaimed-president-of-sovereign-citizen-group-sentenced-to-federal-prison-for-promoting-tax-fraud-scheme

WASHINGTON—The Justice
Department, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the FBI announced today
that James Timothy Turner, also known as Tim Turner, was sentenced to serve 18
years in federal prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States, attempting
to pay taxes with fictitious financial instruments, attempting to obstruct and
impede the IRS, failing to file a 2009 federal income tax return, and falsely testifying
under oath in a bankruptcy proceeding.

In March 2013, following
a five-day jury trial, Turner was convicted on 10 counts in the U.S. District
Court for the Middle District of Alabama. Based on the evidence introduced at
trial and in court filings, Turner, the self-proclaimed “president” of the
sovereign citizen group Republic for the united States of America (RuSA),
traveled the country in 2008 and 2009 conducting seminars teaching attendees
how to defraud the IRS by preparing and submitting fictitious bonds to the U.S.
government in payment of federal taxes, mortgages, and other debt. The evidence
at trial revealed the bonds are fictitious, and witnesses testified that Turner
used special paper, financial terminology, and elaborate borders in an effort
to make them look authentic and more likely to succeed in defrauding the
recipient. Turner was convicted of sending a $300 million fictitious bond in
his own name and of aiding and abetting others in sending 15 other fictitious
bonds to the Treasury Department to pay taxes and other debts.

The evidence at trial
also established that Turner taught people how to file retaliatory liens
against government officials who interfered with the processing of fictitious
bonds. Turner filed a purported $17.6 billion maritime lien in Montgomery
County, Alabama Probate Court against another individual. This investigation
began after Turner and three other self-proclaimed “Guardian Elders” sent
demands to all 50 governors in the United States in March 2010 ordering each
governor to resign within three days to be replaced by a “sovereign” leader or
be “removed.” The FBI immediately began investigating Turner and IRS- Criminal
Investigation (IRS-CI) joined the investigation soon thereafter.

“This lengthy prison
sentence shows that tax defiers like Turner who use bogus tax schemes and file
retaliatory liens against government officials will be punished,” said
Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Tax Division Kathryn
Keneally. “The Justice Department will continue to work with law enforcement to
investigate and prosecute those who attempt to defraud the government.”

“This sentence should
send a message that if you attempt to use retaliatory tax liens and fraudulent
tax schemes as weapons against the United States and its citizens you will be
punished,” stated acting U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart for the Middle
District of Alabama. “We cannot and will not tolerate those who violate the law
for financial gain. I would like to thank the law enforcement officers who
worked vigilantly on this case to bring this criminal to justice.”

“Turner influenced others
with his false ideology by aggressively promoting obstruction of the IRS,”
stated Richard Weber, Chief, IRS-Criminal Investigation. “In truth, Turner’s
own defiance of IRS and his attempts to lead others through the same labyrinth
of lies and distortions led to his downfall as shown by the significant
sentence he must now serve. Today’s sentence should also send a strong message
to those who may follow in Turner’s footsteps and attempt to defy their tax
obligations. The legality of our income tax laws has been challenged time and
time again and the courts have consistently upheld them.”

“The FBI is committed to
vigorously investigate individuals and groups who steal from the federal
government for financial gain through schemes deigned to avoid payment on
loans, taxes, and other obligations owed the federal government,” stated
Stephen Richardson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, Mobile Division.

In addition to prison
time, Turner was ordered to pay $26,021 in restitution to the IRS and to serve
a five-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison.

This case was
investigated by special agents of the FBI and IRS-CI and was prosecuted by Tax
Division Trial Attorney Justin Gelfand and Middle District of Alabama Assistant
U.S. Attorney Gray Borden.

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