Memphis Man Justin A. Jones Indicted for Filing False IRS Forms

MEMPHIS, TN—Justin A. Jones, 31, of Memphis, Tennessee, was indicted by a federal grand jury last week on charges that he created false Internal Revenue Service (IRS) documents for the purpose of causing the agency to place financial obligations on a third party, announced U.S. Attorney Edward L. Stanton, III and Christopher A. Henry, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Nashville Field Office.

According to facts revealed in the indictment, Jones corruptly endeavored to obstruct and impede the due administration of Internal Revenue laws by submitting to the Internal Revenue Service fictitious IRS Forms 1099-C (cancellation of debt) and 1099-OID (original issue discount), each in the amount of $25,000, along with an IRS Form 1096 (Annual Summary and Transmittal), in order to cause the Internal Revenue Service to place financial obligations on J.W., a prosecutor assigned to prosecute Jones for criminal violations in Germantown, Tennessee, and the city of Germantown, when no relationship existed between Jones and J.W. or the city of Germantown that required the filing of the Form 1099-C or 1099-OID with the IRS. The IRS typically considers cancelled or forgiven debt to be taxable income to the debtor.

If convicted, Jones could receive up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Germantown Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred Godwin is representing the government.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.