Kennebunk fisherman pleads guilty, is sentenced for multiple tax frauds

June 4, 2015

AUGUSTA, Maine ? Attorney General Janet Mills announced today that Brian Morse, 54, of Kennebunk, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to serve two years in prison for Failing to File and Pay Maine Income Taxes for 2006 to 2008 and 2010, all Class C offenses. This was Morse?s third conviction for violating Maine?s income tax laws. He was previously convicted of failing to pay taxes in December 2002 for years 1996 to 2001 and again in March 2007 for years 2002 to 2005. Morse is a commercial fisherman who has a history of failing to file and pay his income taxes going back to the 1980s. Superior Court Justice John O?Neil sentenced Morse to four years with all but two years suspended, and two years of probation. Morse was also ordered to pay $15,350, which is the amount of remaining restitution of taxes owed. Morse also failed to appear on several dates for which he was summonsed to address the Court not only on the new tax offenses, but on his failure to pay restitution from his previous convictions. Morse had to be arrested a number of times in order to secure his appearance in Court.
?All Mainers must pay their fair share,? said Attorney General Mills. ?My Office will continue to prosecute those who fail to comply with Maine?s tax laws. And we will pursue repeat offenders who demonstrate they have not learned that they need to comply with their tax obligations.? Mr. Morse pled guilty on April 23, 2015 and has been in custody since he was arrested on an outstanding warrant on January 5, 2015. This case was investigated by the Maine Revenue Services? Criminal Investigations Unit. Attorney General Mills praised the efforts of Assistant Attorney General Gregg D. Bernstein who handled this matter for the Attorney General?s Criminal Division.

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