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Maine Tax Crime Prosecutions Continue Through COVID
April 9, 2021
AUGUSTA - Attorney General Aaron Frey announced today that in the year since Maine recorded its first case of COVID-19, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has continued to work with Maine Revenue Services (MRS) to prosecute tax evaders and to ensure that all people pay their fair share of taxes.
From March 12, 2020, to March 8, 2021, the OAG working with MRS resolved 14 criminal prosecutions including:
On March 12, 2020, in Hancock County, Dana Betts pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of theft by deception of federal income tax refunds and five misdemeanor counts of intentional evasion of Maine income tax and was sentenced to 364 days, all but 70 days suspended, and one year of administrative release. Conditions of administrative release include timely and truthfully filing and paying taxes and making regular payments towards the restitution of $36,724.32.
On October 2, 2020, in Franklin County, Sharmila Das-Wattley pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor counts of failure to file Maine income tax returns and entered into a two-year deferred disposition agreement. If Ms. Das-Wattley complies with the conditions of the deferral agreement, including paying the full restitution of $23,415.21, she will be sentenced to 364 days with all but a cap of 90 days suspended and the right to argue for less.
On November 16, 2020, in Oxford County, John Brenchick pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of theft by deception of federal income tax refunds, one misdemeanor count of theft by deception of Maine income tax refunds, two misdemeanor counts of intentional evasion of Maine income tax, two misdemeanor counts of failure to pay Maine income tax, and one misdemeanor count of failure to file a Maine income tax return and received a sentence of 364 days, all but 21 days suspended, and one year of administrative release and a consecutive sentence of 364 days all suspended and one year of administrative release. Conditions of his administrative release include making regular payments towards the restitution of $25,505.17 and timely and truthfully filing and paying taxes.
On March 4, 2021, in Cumberland County, Susan Eklund pleaded guilty to 12 misdemeanor counts of failure to truthfully collect, account for or pay over sales tax with regard to her restaurant, Susan's Fish-n-Chips, and entered into an 18-month deferred disposition agreement. If Ms. Eklund complies with the conditions of the deferral agreement, including timely and truthfully filing and paying Maine sales and income tax and making regular payments towards the restitution of $205,506.87, she will receive a sentence of 364 days, all suspended, and one year of administrative release.
On March 8, 2021, in Somerset County, Lisa Levine pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor counts of failure to file Maine income tax returns and entered into a two-year deferred disposition agreement. If Ms. Levine complies with the conditions of the deferral agreement, including timely and truthfully filing and paying taxes and paying the full restitution of $13,237.58, she will receive a sentence of 30 days in jail.
Attorney General Frey commented, "the COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge for all Mainers. My office has taken into account the hardships that Mainers have been experiencing, but we all must do our part to comply with the tax and criminal laws of our State, particularly since taxes fund the essential services we rely on. Nearly all of us have experienced financial difficulty at one time or another, but that is no excuse to habitually and intentionally shirk legal duties and obligations, and my office will continue to pursue those who do so."
Maine Revenue Services Criminal Investigations Unit investigated the cases and Assistant Attorneys General Gregg Bernstein and Elizabeth T. Weyl prosecuted them for the Criminal Division of the Office of the Attorney General.
