A Fairfax County plumber has been taken to task by federal authorities for his alleged involvement in a tax evasion scheme. Richard Jaensch, a resident of Annandale, Va., has been indicted by a federal grand jury with one count of corruptly endeavoring to impede the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), one count of filing a false claim for a refund, and four counts of failing to file a tax return for 2004 through 2007.
The indictment alleges that Jaensch failed to file personal income tax returns between 2001 and 2007, despite the fact that he was required to do so by law. The plumber, who is self-employed, obstructed and impeded the IRS by filing numerous documents and pleadings in Fairfax County, claiming that he and his wife were not persons required to file federal income tax returns, and providing false information to the IRS.
In addition, Jaensch caused his wife to yearly present a letter to her employer directing them to stop withholding federal income taxes from her salary. The IRS began levying his wife’s paycheck and bank accounts to satisfy her outstanding tax liability, and Jaensch continued his obstructive conduct by filing or causing his wife to file correspondence with the IRS claiming that the IRS could not instruct her employer to withhold taxes from her paycheck.
The indictment further alleges that in April 2009, Jaensch electronically filed with the IRS a false 2008 individual income tax return claiming a tax refund of $774,052, which he knew to be false and fraudulent.
An indictment is merely a formal charge by the grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in U.S. District Court. If convicted, Jaensch faces a maximum potential sentence of 12 years in prison.
This case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by the Tax Division’s Trial Attorney Caryn Finley and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gene Rossi.
More information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts is available at www.usdoj.gov/tax.
The case is a reminder that the IRS takes tax evasion seriously and will pursue individuals and businesses who attempt to evade their tax obligations.
Richard Jaensch, (defendant/respondent REAL full name or legal entity name), is charged with corruptly endeavoring to impede the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), filing a false claim for a refund and failing to file a tax return for 2004 through 2007.
City and state: Alexandria, Va.
Exact date: The indictment was returned on Wednesday, (no date provided).
Sentence or outcome: Jaensch faces a maximum potential sentence of 12 years in prison.
Dollar amounts: $774,052.
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Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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