Former Florida State Senator Indicted on Tax Charges
| U.S. Attorney’s Office July 20, 2011 |
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Jose A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); and John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, announce the indictment and arrest of Muriel Amanda Dawson (“Mandy”), 54, formerly a resident of Broward County, Florida. Dawson was arrested earlier today at her home in Volusia County, and is expected to make her initial appearance in federal court in Orlando this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donald P. Dietrich. Dawson is charged with tax evasion for tax years 2004 and 2005 (Counts 1 and 2), and failure to file tax returns for tax years 2006, 2007, and 2008 (Counts 3-5). If convicted, she faces a statutory maximum term of imprisonment of up to five years on Counts 1 and 2, and not more than one year on each of Counts 3 to 5.
According to the indictment, Dawson willfully attempted to evade the payment of $11,889 and $12,966 in taxes due and owing for calendar years 2004 and 2005, respectively. Additionally, the indictment alleges Dawson failed to file income tax returns with the IRS for calendar years 2006, 2007 and 2008. During that period, Dawson was a Florida state senator representing sections of Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of IRS-CI and the FBI. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Carlton and Julia A. Paylor.
An indictment is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.