Related Federal Cases
Ames Bar Owner Faces Time for $150K Tax Dodge
DES MOINES, Iowa – Scott Donald Griffen, 57, of Ames, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to four months behind bars for deliberately stiffing the IRS on employment taxes. Senior Judge Robert W. Pratt delivered the sentence on August 25, 2020, alongside an order for Griffen to cough up $150,297.52 in restitution, plus interest. The case, pursued by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa, exposes a pattern of willful financial misconduct.
Griffen, who operated two Ames establishments – Corner Pocket and DG’s Tap House – pleaded guilty to one count of failure to account for and pay over employment taxes. According to court documents filed November 15, 2019, Griffen systematically failed to remit taxes withheld from his employees’ wages to the IRS between 2012 and 2016, amassing a debt exceeding $150,000. The scheme wasn’t a simple oversight; Griffen allegedly diverted the funds for his own personal use.
“If you don’t pay your taxes, you can go to federal prison. It’s that simple,” stated United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum, delivering a blunt message to potential tax cheats. “Scott Griffen failed to pay employment taxes for four years, and he continued even after he was warned by the IRS. He deserves the prison term imposed today.” The prosecution highlighted that Griffen ignored repeated warnings from the IRS, continuing his illegal practice despite being put on notice.
Adam Steiner, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in the St. Louis Field Office, emphasized the agency’s commitment to pursuing such cases. “While operating his business from 2012 to 2016, Mr. Griffen willfully failed to pay over to the IRS any of the employment taxes he had withheld from his employee’s wages; he took them for his own purposes,” Steiner said. “IRS CI will continue to use its financial expertise to investigate those individuals who knowingly and willfully evade their tax obligation.”
The investigation was spearheaded by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, showcasing the agency’s focus on uncovering complex financial crimes. Prosecutors from the United States Attorney’s Office successfully demonstrated Griffen’s deliberate and sustained effort to defraud the government. The sentence serves as a stark reminder that tax evasion, regardless of the amount, carries serious consequences.
With Griffen set to begin his sentence, the case closes, leaving a clear warning for business owners: cutting corners on taxes isn’t worth the risk. The Grimy Times will continue to follow federal cases in Iowa and across the nation, exposing the underbelly of white-collar crime and holding perpetrators accountable.
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Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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