Chiropractor Convicted of Tax Fraud

BATON ROUGE, LA – Acting United States Attorney Corey R. Amundson announced today that STEVEN F. ANGLE, age 61, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Shelly D. Dick to three counts of filing false tax returns, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(1), and to one count of endeavoring to interfere with the due administration of the Internal Revenue laws, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7212(a). As a result of his convictions, ANGLE faces a potential prison term as well as restitution order.

ANGLE owned and operated Chiropractic Nutrition Clinic located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for approximately 20 years. ANGLE provided chiropractor services to clients and was paid primarily by health insurance companies and law firms. ANGLE filed false federal income tax returns from 2005-2009 and from 2011-2013. For instance, ANGLE reported $26.00 in total income for the 2011 tax year and $0 in total income for the 2012 tax year. For the 2013 tax year, he reported $0 in total income when he had actually earned at least $108,000. In all of the 2005-2009 and 2011-2013 tax returns, he represented that he owed no taxes when, in fact, he had earned substantial income from his chiropractic services. Filed with these false tax returns were Forms 1099-MISC, which had been altered by ANGLE to reflect that he had earned $0 from the insurance companies and law firms when, in fact, he had earned significant income from them.

Acting U.S. Attorney Amundson stated, “Those who defraud the tax system not only defraud the federal government, but also leave millions of honest taxpayers holding the bag. Such fraudsters sometimes claim to be ‘sticking it’ to the federal government. In fact, they are really ‘sticking it’ to their honest neighbors and friends who pay their taxes. I appreciate the excellent work of the agents and prosecutors working on this important matter.”

IRS, Criminal Investigation Special Agent-in-Charge Jerome R. McDuffie stated, “Today’s guilty plea represents a victory for the taxpaying citizens of this country. Stephen Angle challenged the constitutionality of our nation’s tax laws, and was not successful in his attempts to impede the government, specifically the IRS. It is particularly relevant during this current filing season, that the taxpayers of this country are aware the Special Agents of IRS – CI are currently, and always, working very diligently to protect the tax dollars they pay into the tax system, as well as to collect from those individuals who evade the payment of their fair share. ”

This investigation was handled by the Criminal Investigations Division of the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys J. Brady Casey and Rene Salomon.