Memphis, TN - A Henry County woman who co-owned Pittman Trucking Company ("PTC") pleaded guilty to obstructing the administration of the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"). D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the guilty plea today.
According to the charging instrument, Debra Wyatt, of Puryear, Tennessee, executed a scheme to release two IRS tax levies against PTC. PTC owed the IRS approximately $214,373.40 in federal employment taxes. The IRS tax levies were issued to Rush Trucking Corporation ("RTC") which was a source of income for PTC. Wyatt contacted an RTC representative about releasing the levies. She sent fraudulent releases to RTC that purported to be from the IRS revenue officer. RTC released the levies based on Wyatt’s fraudulent correspondence. The total amount of fraudulently released debt was $20,765.81.
This charge carries a penalty of up to 36 months in federal prison and a fine of $5,000.00. Sentencing is set for July 25, 2019, before U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Protection of the United States Treasury is a core value and critical mission for this office and the Department of Justice. Income tax evasion, IRS obstruction and fraud strike at the very heart of our federal government, and will not be tolerated."
This case was investigated by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Damon K. Griffin prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
