Associated Press
MEDFORD, Ore. — Anti-government activists have filed false tax returns in the name of Jackson County Sheriff Bob Kennedy and about a dozen other county officials and workers.
The filings imply that Kennedy and the others failed to disclose earnings of $500 million.
Authorities say the filings are the newest strategy used by right-wing extremists in their fight against taxes and governmental authority. The forms typically are filed to retaliate for actions by police or county workers.
The activists hope the false filings will trigger an IRS audit.
"Frankly, we know what these people are up to," said Sgt. Rich Fogarty, a Jackson County detective. "It’s a harassment technique. They intimidate government workers for doing their job."
Fogarty said federal fraud charges could be filed against those who filed the forms. He declined to say if authorities are close to making an arrest.
The activists targeted Kennedy, District Attorney Mark Huddleston, several judges and county planners. All had an IRS tax form 8300 filed in their names. The forms are used by businesses to report cash payments totaling more than $10,000.
Kathleen Sulmonetti, an IRS investigator in Portland, said fraudulent 8300 filings are becoming increasingly popular with anti-government groups across the nation.
"It’s really meant just to cause trouble," Sulmonetti said.
Anyone notified of a filing they believe to be fraudulent can usually put the matter to rest by calling the IRS, Sulmonetti said.
According to county officials, the 8300 filings follow other tactics used by people who want to disrupt local government.
Property liens, challenges to state and federal laws and other claims are regularly filed with county courts, according to Jim Adams, court administrator.
The court must process each claim, regardless of its legitimacy.
"The cumulative effect of this is that substantial taxpayer resources are used to examine these things," Adams said.
No court has upheld any of the claims against the county or county workers, Adams said.
A representative of the Southern Oregon Militia, a government watchdog group, said his group is not to blame and does not condone fraud.
"God, no," said Carl Worden, the militia’s public liaison. "We don’t like the idea of somebody putting false liens on property either."
Copyright ©2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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