KNOXVILLE, TN—On June 16, 2015, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Tennessee State Representative Joe Armstrong charging him with conspiracy to defraud the United States, tax evasion and filing a false federal income tax return.

Armstrong appeared in U.S. District Court on June 19, 2015, and pleaded not guilty to the charges. A trial has been set for 9:00 a.m., on August 25, 2015, before the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, Chief U.S. District Court Judge.

The indictment, which is on file with the U.S. District Court, alleges that Armstrong utilized his position as a legislator to profit from the sale of Tennessee cigarette tax stamps and avoid the payment of federal income taxes.

Agencies involved in this investigation include the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles E. Atchley, Jr., represented the United States.