Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Western District of Michigan
Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN - Thomas Lee Earl, 37, of Charlotte, pled guilty to tax evasion, U.S. Attorney Patrick Miles announced today. Earl, owner of Earl’s Exterior Plus, admitted that he had received substantial business income after a hail storm hit the greater Lansing area in 2008. Earl hid that income from the IRS and filed a false tax return for 2009 that underreported his income.
U.S. Attorney Miles stated that “the United States Attorney’s Office will not hesitate to bring to justice those individuals who choose to defraud the IRS by willfully understating their income to avoid paying taxes. Such conduct is criminal and is unfair to honest citizens who pay
their taxes on a timely basis."
U.S. Attorney Miles was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Erick Martinez, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. “It is important to remember, especially during filing season, that there are serious consequences for intentionally failing to
report all of your income," said Special Agent Martinez.
Earl faces up to five years in prison. A date for sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
