A Nixa optometrist last week was sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison without parole for evading income taxes, bankruptcy fraud and disrupting the Internal Revenue Service administration.
Dr. Leslie MacLaren, 61, also was ordered by U.S. District Judge Richard Dorr to pay $334,003 in restitution, according to a news release from the U.S. attorney's office for the Western District of Missouri.
In July, MacLaren was convicted of five counts of attempting to evade federal income taxes, two counts of bankruptcy fraud, and one count each of submitting a false claim and obstructing the administration of the IRS.
MacLaren attempted to conceal roughly $161,773 through methods such as concealing income and hiding assets, including a three-story Nixa house on more than six acres - which he titled in his mother's name - and three vehicles, a Mitsubishi Eclipse, a Porsche 924 and a Lincoln Continental - which he titled and purchased under the name of a fictitious company, according to the release.
MacLaren also attempted to avoid paying income taxes for 2003-06 by failing to file returns, avoiding use of banks, dealing mostly in cash, and filing a false return to a former employer in which he listed eight dependents and claimed exemption from withholding on an IRS Form W-4.
In May 2003, MacLaren filed bankruptcy to cover his debts, which included more than $117,000 he owed for federal and Missouri state taxes. In his bankruptcy petition, he falsely reported his gross income by more than $3,000 per month, falsely claimed payroll taxes and Social Security payments were being deducted from his pay, and failed to report the Nixa home and a vecicle listed under the nonexistent business name Dioptrics Ltd., the release said.
When the IRS audited him, MacLaren challenged the authority of the IRS and the legitimacy of federal income taxes, and he made complaints against IRS personnel. When advised that he was under criminal investigation, MacLaren filed a lawsuit in federal court naming various IRS agents involved in the investigation and claiming $1.1 million in damages. The lawsuit later was dismissed.
After his indictment, MacLaren filed another tax return claiming a $40 million refund, the release said.
This case was prosecuted by assistant U.S. attorney Steven Mohlhenrich and U.S. Department of Justice Tax Division trial attorney Michael Boteler, and it was investigated by IRS‑Criminal Investigation.[[In-content Ad]]
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