Dusten Lee Barth, a man with a penchant for deception, has pleaded guilty to filing false claims with the Internal Revenue Service. On July 1, 2014, Barth entered his guilty plea before United States District Court Judge Paul A. Magnuson in federal court.
According to the plea agreement, Barth admitted to preparing and submitting approximately 10 fraudulent tax returns to the IRS, claiming over $43,000 in false tax refunds. The defendant also admitted to using the identities of several other individuals to submit a false tax return in their names.
For his crimes, Barth faces a potential maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for the False Claims count. He will also receive a two-year mandatory, consecutive prison sentence for the Aggravated Identity Theft count.
In a statement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office praised the work of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division for their tireless efforts in bringing Barth to justice. Assistant U.S. Attorney Surya Saxena will be prosecuting the case.
The case is a stark reminder that tax cheats will be held accountable for their actions. As one law enforcement official noted, ‘Tax fraud is a serious crime that affects us all.’
The sentencing hearing for Barth is yet to be scheduled, but it is expected that Judge Magnuson will impose a severe sentence for his crimes.
Dusten Lee Barth’s case serves as a cautionary tale for those who would seek to defraud the system. His actions have resulted in a substantial amount of taxpayer money being lost, and he will now face the consequences of his actions.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to protecting taxpayers and bringing those who engage in tax fraud to justice.
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Key Facts
- State: Minnesota
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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