OHIO DENTIST SENTENCED TO FOUR YEARS IN PRISON FOR ATTEMPTED EVASION- He had not filed a tax return since 1992, and federal authorities seized gold bars, silver coins.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]An Ohio man was sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted at trial of attempted tax evasion.

Douglas Smith, 68, of Strongsville, Ohio, was also ordered to pay $726,976.25 restitution and a $19,000 fine for criminal contempt.

According to court records and trial evidence, Smith, a dentist, attempted to evade paying income taxes for the tax years 2004 to 2012.

Smith placed his assets, including a home, into a trust, purchased gold bars and coins, and filed for bankruptcy.

Additionally, from 2014 to 2017, Smith again attempted to evade paying income taxes by depositing his paychecks in the bank account of a second holding trust.

During the trial, evidence showed Smith failed to file an income tax return since 1992 and owed more than $490,000 in back taxes and penalties to the IRS.

In January 2012, federal authorities seized approximately $250,000 in cash, gold bars, and gold and silver coins from Smith’s home for non-payment of income taxes to satisfy federal tax liens.

After the seizure, Smith purported to transfer all his assets, including his home, to a second trust to defeat collection efforts and avoid foreclosure of his home.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][us_image image=”2698″][/vc_column][/vc_row]