Roanoke grand jury indicts Virginia man for employment tax evasion, attempted obstruction of the IRS – WFXRtv.com

by: WFXRtv.com Digital Desk

ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) The Criminal Investigation division of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced Tuesday a Roanoke federal grand jury indicted a Virginia man Friday for charges of evading payment of employment taxes and attempting to obstruct the IRS.

According to the IRS news release about the indictment on Tuesday, June 23, Jeffrey Tharpe the owner and operator of Shearin Construction, Inc. in Charlotte County allegedly caused payroll taxes to be withheld from his employees wages from 2002 through 2013 and failed to fully pay them over to the IRS.

However, in order to make it appear that he had no ownership interest in the company or its funds, the IRS says Tharpe allegedly put the company and its assets under his wifes name.Therefore, when the IRS tried to collect the outstanding payroll taxes from Tharpes wife, Tharpe allegedly caused his wife to transfer her real property interest to him and then covered the property with fake debts to keep it out of the IRS reach, according to authorities.

Officials say the indictment alleges Tharpe owes more than $940,000 in employment taxes, interest, and penalties.

IRS-CI places a high investigative priority on attempts to evade or circumvent the duty to withhold, account for and pay over employment taxes, says IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Kelly R. Jackson. Working with our civil partners in the IRS, CI ensures these crimes are fully investigated. These are not victimless crimes and may create unwelcomed problems for employees who believed taxes were paid on their behalf when it comes time to file for social security.

The indictment was returned on Friday, June 19, but it only alleges that crimes have been convicted, officials say. However, if convicted, the IRS says Tharpe faces a maximum prison sentence of five years for tax evasion, as well as three years for obstructing the IRS. In addition, Tharpe reportedly faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.

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Roanoke grand jury indicts Virginia man for employment tax evasion, attempted obstruction of the IRS - WFXRtv.com