EUGENE, Ore. -Mark Timothy Ellis, 38, of Bend, Oregon, pled guilty on Sept. 11, 2013, to making a fraudulent claim to the United States and to filing a false lien against a federal employee. As part of his plea agreement, Ellis admitted that he made a false claim to the United States when he filed a false federal tax return and obtained a $327,062 refund based on that false return. Ellis also admitted that he filed a false lien against the federal law enforcement officer who was investigating the false tax return as a means of retaliation and intimidation.
Sentencing is set for January 7, 2014, at 9 a.m. before Chief U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken. The maximum penalty for making a false claim is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for filing a false lien is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
