MADISON, WIS. - Jeffrey M. Anderson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Shawn Bierd, 48, Deerfield, Wis., pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Madison to tax evasion and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. Bierd faces up to five years in prison on the tax count, and up to 10 years on the firearm count.
According to count one of the information filed in court on July 10, 2017, Bierd owned and operated Advance Auto Body in Madison, Wis. Bierd failed to file his employment tax returns, or pay his employment taxes for his business, for the years 2003 through 2012. The information alleges that in July 2007, the IRS started collection activity against Bierd, which included bank levies, liens on his home, and an attempt to seize a business pickup truck. According to the information, Bierd attempted to evade the payment and collection of the employment taxes by moving his assets into the names of nominees, including his mother. He also sent frivolous correspondence to the IRS claiming he was exempt from taxation and demanded that the IRS pay him $10,000,000 for damages due to the IRS’s collection actions.
Count two of the information alleged that on Aug. 2, 2016, after having been previously convicted of a felony offense, Bierd possessed a 9mm Beretta, and a.45 caliber Thompson submachine gun.
At today’s plea hearing, Bierd admitted that he evaded $178,423.68 in employment taxes. Bierd also admitted that he owned the two firearms seized by IRS agents during a search of his home in Deerfield on Aug. 2, 2016.
Bierd’s sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 20, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. The charges against Bierd are the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison office of IRS Criminal Investigation. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Graber.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
