FEDERAL COURT PERMANENTLY BARS SEATTLE MAN FROM PROMOTING ALLEGED TAX-FRAUD SCHEMES

Disbarred Lawyer May Not Use Bogus Entities to Help Customers Violate Tax Laws

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A federal court in Seattle has permanently enjoined previously disbarred Seattle attorney Bruce Hawkins from promoting tax-fraud schemes. The government complaint alleged that Bruce Hawkins helped set up bogus limited partnerships in Nevis, West Indies so that customers could claim that income from such partnerships is not subject to U.S. tax.

According to the complaint, Hawkins also allegedly helped customers set up bogus Nevada limited partnerships that customers used to treat personal expenses as deductible business expenses. More information about this case, including a copy of the government complaint, is available at http://www.usdoj.gov/tax/txdv06156.htm.

Since 2001, the Justice Department has sought and obtained injunctions against more than 200 tax-scam promoters and tax preparers. Information about these cases is available at http://www.usdoj.gov/tax/taxpress2006.htm. Information about the Justice Department’s Tax Division can be found at http://www.usdoj.gov/tax.