Comments (16) | Add a comment
Ex-Henderson firefighter free after arrest on tax evasion charges
Tools
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Updated: Oct. 21, 2010 | 8:03 a.m.
A retired Henderson firefighter was released on his own recognizance Wednesday, a day after his arrest in a tax evasion case.
Special agents with Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation arrested Dwight Jackson in Henderson after a federal grand jury accused him of attempting to evade more than $130,000 in income taxes.
"As a government employee, we're profoundly aware that our wages come from taxpayer dollars. Here at IRS Criminal Investigation, we will vigorously investigate any allegations of a government employee evading their income taxes," said Paul Camacho, special agent in charge of the Las Vegas field office. "All Americans have to pay their fair share of taxes."
Jackson, 51, appeared Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge George Foley Jr. and pleaded not guilty to five counts of attempted tax evasion, a felony.
When Foley asked the defendant if he could afford to hire a lawyer, he replied, "Probably."
An assistant federal public defender represented Jackson at the hearing, and Jackson's trial was scheduled for Dec. 7.
According to the indictment, Jackson had a gross taxable income of about $644,000 from 2004 through 2008.
He is accused of attempting to evade the taxes he owed on that income by understating his wages on his individual income tax returns, by falsely claiming the earned income tax credit, by filing his returns in an untimely manner, by submitting false W-4 forms with his employer claiming he was exempt from federal tax withholdings, and by attempting to conceal his correct income from IRS authorities.
"Just because you may be a fellow civil servant doesn't mean you get a pass with IRS Criminal Investigation," Camacho said. "Lest anyone think otherwise, there's no employee discounts when it comes to federal income taxes."
In 2009, Jackson received pay and benefits totaling more than $280,000, according to the TransparentNevada website. In 2008, according to the website, his pay and benefits totaled almost $128,000.
Contact reporter Carri Geer Thevenot at cgeer@reviewjournal.com or 702-384-8710.
Comments
Terms & Conditions
The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The Review-Journal does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please use the Report Abuse button.
Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 24 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.
RSS
Twitter
Facebook
15% unemployment, both public and private industry employees being laid off left and right.. families losing their home daily and this firefighter goes from making $128,000 in 2008 to making $280,000 in 2009 then can afford to retire at age 51.
HOW DOES THIS COUNTY AND CITY AFFORD TO PAY THESE SIT AROUND AND GROCERY SHOP THUGS $200,000 a year???? when many many other city and private workers are being laid-off??? Bottom line is....we don't even need 80% of the firefighters in the first place...90% of their calls are small fender benders and minor medical calls. We already have the private ambulance service to take care of these calls AT NO cost to the taxpayers... It's a huge scam and JOKE.... pay these tax skipping, thugs six figures a year ....for the rest of their lives....to sit around a firehouse and surf craigs list for young girls. What a country. And this entitled mentallity is why this country is falling apart
Love this arrogant firefighters comment to the judge when asked if he could afford a lawyer... "probably" what an a##hole. He just robbed the community of thousands and made $280,000 last year with his high school diploma and says "probably" ALL firefighters are stealing from the taxpayers of this community!!!! Average salaries of nearly $200,000 a year and an unbelievable retirement second to know. All this for having a high school diploma. They all steal from us every time they cash their $12,000 checks every month.
popo.g, you can't be serious. He did nothing wrong, other than filing. Stop filing! you get in trouble for improperly filing a tax return. Don't file, remember it's optional. lol
This goes to show that many public employees live way beyond their means. With the money they make from the tax payers, they have to cheat on their income tax. Some public employees just seem to not have enough I guess. I hope he is found guility and the government garnishs his retirement.
What a complete slimeball! The Earned Income Tax Credit is for the poorest of the poor. Out of control greed and arrogance. I wonder if he's the Henderson fire fighter I've seen who parks his private vehicle - a huge, obnoxious red pickup - in the fire zone while he shops.
"As a government employee, we're profoundly aware that our wages come from taxpayer dollars. Here at IRS Criminal Investigation, we will vigorously investigate any allegations of a government employee evading their income taxes," said Paul Camacho, special agent in charge of the Las Vegas field office. "All Americans have to pay their fair share of taxes."
Does this also apply to our elected/appointed govt. leaders??? NOT!
All he did was claim what he " should " have been making instead of what he was making. No problem , he is a hero.
From 128k to 280k in one year? Must have been promoted to the getting cats out of the tree squad.
"All Americans have to pay their fair share of taxes."
Really? What about Timothy Geithner and most of the other Obama appointees and administration who didn't pay taxes for years and were given a pass on their past taxes?
so what did he do wrong? income tax evasion? Is that a crime? by what statute? the 16th amendment was never ratified by the states! google search: freedom to fascism. it is a great video created by a great patriot. If we are required to pay income tax... why does the I.R.S. Director state: "paying is optional and not required." lol what a joke. There is no law. Also, check out the grey commission/blue ribbon panel that Reagan did in the 80's. It found that 100% of income tax collected goes straight to interest on debt already obtained from the Federal Reserve! So get forced by the government to pay interest on government debt to a private bank (FED). wow, is this America?
Say what you want about firefighter pay, but I don't see what he did wrong.