Federal officials have denied a request for some documents in the case against a former Minneapolis Police officer accused of corruption and tax fraud. However, a judge ruled elements of the case would be separated.
Former Officer Michael David Roberts has been indicted by a federal grand jury, accused of selling police records to a gang member and failing to report $100,000 in income from off-duty security jobs to the IRS, according to court documents.
Earlier this month, his attorneys had asked to throw out some internal affairs reports and sever the tax accounts against him.
According to court documents, attorneys argue that Roberts was told by internal affairs investigators to either make a statement regarding the accusations against him or risk losing his job.
Roberts’ attorneys say that threat deprived him of his constitutional protections. They also want the tax case against Roberts to be separated from the other allegations because they’re unrelated.
The prosecution filed its own motion seeking, in part, to stop the defense from alleging at trial that Roberts is being prosecuted because of racism inside the Minneapolis Police Department.
The government responded Monday, stating the internal affairs reports would not be tossed out, based on entrapment and prejudicial claims made by Roberts' attorneys. But a federal judge ruled Tuesday that the tax and bribery counts against Roberts would be explored in a separate case.
Prosecutors say Roberts has confessed to selling the records, but hasn't pleaded in the tax charges. Roberts' trial is set for May 5.
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Related stories: Indicted former MPD officer asks for reports to be thrown out Mpls. Police officer reindicted, counts added
Showing posts with label tax evasion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tax evasion. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Officer Mark Phillip Arrested for Driving BMW that He Owes Taxes On
A Newport News police officer was arrested Thursday for driving a 2000 BMW he owed property taxes on.
According to Hampton police, officials from the Treasurer's Office put a distress warrant on Mark Andrew Phillip's car Monday that prohibited him from driving it, and took the state tags. Phillips, 45, is a Hampton resident.
On Wednesday, officials found his BMW in Newport News displaying tags he'd put on from a different vehicle he owned.
They put a boot on it, took the tags off, and called the police, said Hampton Police Spokeswoman Allison Quinones. Phillips was charged with one count of removal of levied goods and one count of improper use of stage tags.
He has been released from jail.
Phillips has worked for Newport News Police since April 2007, said Spokesman Lou Thurston. At the time of his arrest he was assigned to the North Precinct as a patrol officer.
He is on administrative leave while the division does an internal investigation, Thurston said.
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Saturday, October 18, 2008
Former Officer and Sheriffs Son Face Federal Charges
HOUSTON
Cameras were there when Jack Heard Jr. walked out of the federal court house late Thursday afternoon.
A judge had just read a long list of criminal charges against him. If his face looks familiar, maybe it's because you remember his dad.
The accused is the son of former Harris County Sheriff Jack Heard Sr., who died in 2005 after a long and distinguished career in law enforcement.
Heard Junior spent seven years as a Houston police officer, and he's been a fixture in this community. At least twice he's spent thousands of dollars helping young people by outbidding others at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
But now it seems he needs some help. He said he has hired prominent defense attorney Dick DeGuerin to help him fight a federal indictment.
According to the indictment, Heard has been charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States of employment taxes, bribing a government official, trying to obtain government contracts, failure to pay prevailing wages and a couple of other charges, including tax evasion.
All the allegations are associated with a security company Heard owns called Superior Protection, Inc.
Three other men, Gary Lambert, William Lane and John Bailey were also indicted. They all work for Heard.
A closer look at the indictment reveals allegations that Heard failed to pay employment taxes on more than $5.7 million going back as far as 1987. He also failed to provide the required firearms training to his security guards, nor did he properly pay the guards.
Agents from the IRS, ATF and the Department of Homeland Security said they spent years investigating this case.
If he's convicted, the son of a longtime sheriff could spend up to 15 years in prison.
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