Press Release
SELF-ACCLAIMED PRIEST SENTENCED TO 54 MONTHS FOR TAX FRAUD
November 14, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Nathan J. Hochman, Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice Tax Division, and Eileen C. Mayer, Chief, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, announced today that self-proclaimed priest, Earl R. Wolfe, was sentenced to 54 months' imprisonment on charges of tax fraud, and was ordered to pay $224,869 in restitution. In September, Wolfe was found guilty by a Fort Lauderdale jury of conspiring to defraud the United States and filing false tax returns.
According to the criminal indictment, court documents, and statements made in court, during years 1999 through 2004, Wolfe reported $600 of income on tax returns he filed with the Internal Revenue Service. However, evidence at trial proved he earned more than $750,000 as an unlicensed architect. Wolfe attempted to conceal his income by cashing more than $600,000 at a local check cashing store and utilizing nominee entities. Evidence presented at trial proved that Wolfe had not paid any income tax since 1989.
In addition to concealing his income, Wolfe attempted to hide his assets from the Internal Revenue Service. In October 2003, falsely claiming to be a priest, Wolfe created the Office of the Presiding Overseer of the Domicile Creators Service Ministry, which purported to be a tax exempt religious entity. Wolfe then transferred ownership of his personal residence and two Harley Davidson motorcycles to the so-called ministry.
U.S. Attorney Acosta stated, "The concealment of income, whether through an offshore account or through the use of nominees, is a violation of law and will not go unnoticed. Those who intentionally violate our tax laws will be held accountable and will be prosecuted."
"Today's sentence sends a crystal clear message, to all those engaged in or contemplating illegal tax defier conduct, that the government will investigate and prosecute you to the full extent of the law, resulting in years of imprisonment, payment of all the taxes owed plus penalties and interest, and being branded a felon for the rest of your life," said Nathan J. Hochman, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department's Tax Division. "This conviction marks another successful prosecution under the National Tax Defier Initiative."
"The law is clear on the issue of taxable income and who is required to file and pay taxes. Individuals cannot hide their assets and income by declaring themselves as an exempt religious entity," said Eileen Mayer, Chief, IRS Criminal Investigation. "There is no secret formula that can eliminate a person's tax obligations. Today's sentence confirms the IRS' determination to pierce through frivolous tax arguments and to uphold our tax laws."
Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey A. Neiman and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Matthew J. Mueller.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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