First I know that one is innocent until proven guilty, but in IRS tax cases, you can also bet that one doesn’t get indited unless there’s a HUGE chance of being found guilty. Playing with the IRS is just pain dumb.
According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, Dr. Debra Johnson-Jordan, a physician in East Point, Georgia, has been arraigned on federal charges of tax evasion and failing to file a federal income tax return.
“The indictment alleges that, despite earning significant income, this doctor failed to file tax returns for several years in a row, and then claimed that she was exempt from paying taxes,” said U.S. Attorney John Horn.
“IRS Criminal Investigation is sworn to protect the tax system and bring to justice those who steal from the Treasury,” stated Veronica F. Hyman-Pillot, Special Agent in Charge. “Dr. Jordan stole from the American people by failing to file tax returns and pay the taxes that she owed for numerous years.”
According to U.S. Attorney Horn, the indictment, and other information presented in court: Johnson-Jordan, who practices medicine in East Point, Georgia, is charged with two counts of tax evasion for filing false W-4 forms with her employer claiming that she was exempt from paying federal income taxes for tax years 2011 and 2012. Johnson-Jordan claimed she was exempt from paying federal income taxes despite earning at least $363,376. Johnson-Jordan is also charged with one count of failing to file a federal income tax return for 2010, despite earning at least $175,943. The indictment also alleges that Johnson-Jordan failed to file federal income tax returns for tax years 1997-2007 and 2010-2012.
Debra Johnson-Jordan, 58, of Winder, Georgia, was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Janet F. King. She was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 26, 2015.
What was she thinking?
Reading this causes me to ask so many unanswered questions. For example, what would cause Dr. Johnson-Jordan to think that she is exempt from income taxes? What would make her employer believe that her in accurate W-4 was right? What would make Dr. Johnson-Jordan think that she’d get away with not filing tax returns? And most importantly, what NEED did she have in her life that was so great that she felt she could jeopardize her career over IRS tax issues?
There are many unanswered questions. One thing, however, is a fact: Every choice has a consequence. I suspect that the consequence in this case will be the loss of this physician’s medical license and federal prison.
YOUR THOUGHTS ARE WELCOME!
