Richard C. Mathews, Filing False Income Tax Returns, Arkansas 2013

LITTLE ROCK, AR – A Conway business owner was sentenced to 27 months in prison for filing false income tax returns and obstructing IRS laws.

Richard C. Mathews, 61, was convicted by a jury on July 30, 2013, of five counts of filing false income tax returns and one count of obstructing the IRS laws. Mathews was ordered to pay $56,904.29 in restitution to the IRS.

Mathews, the owner of Conway Wealth Team International Association, operated a business that solicited members for a $99 joining fee into his system of making money by encouraging more members to join his online multi-level marketing network known as MMS and Wealth Team International (WTIA).

The more people a member solicited to join MMS or WTIA, the more money the members and Mathews could make. Mathews stated on his federal tax returns that he had gross receipts of $22,201 for the five year period from 2004 to 2008, when in fact his bank records showed business deposits of $245,300.42.

During the investigation, Mathews made false statements to and regarding actions taken by IRS agents, created a trust to avoid payment of taxes, and filed false returns.

The case was investigated by agents from the IRS-Criminal Investigations. The case was prosecuted by First Assistant United States Attorney Pat Harris and Assistant United States Attorney Jamie Dempsey.

Mathews was released on his own recognizance after his court appearance. He was ordered to report to the Bureau of Prisons on Monday, January 6, 2014.