Physician pleads guilty to failing to file personal tax returns

Dr. Phillip Psaltis, of Kimberling City, yesterday pleaded guilty in federal court in Springfield to two counts of failing to file income tax returns, according to a news release from the office of Tammy Dickinson, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri.

Psaltis, 64, worked most recently as an emergency room doctor at Lawton Indian Hospital in Lawton, Okla., in 2011 and at Claremore Indian Hospital in Claremore, Okla., in 2010. He also previously worked as an emergency room physician at Barton County Memorial Hospital in Lamar, 2006–09, and at Pike County Memorial Hospital in Louisiana, Mo., 2008–09, according to the release.

Yesterday, Psaltis waived his right to a grand jury and through a guilty plea admitted he failed to file federal income tax returns since 2002, resulting in tax losses from his unreported income of $1.12 million.

According to the charges, Psaltis failed to file federal tax returns for 2009, when he earned roughly $450,000, and for 2010, when he earned more than $430,000.

In addition, the plea agreement states Psaltis owes $62,259 in Missouri and Oklahoma state income tax for years 2009–11. According to the release, the physician’s medical license was suspended three times between 2009 and 2013 for delinquency of Missouri state taxes or failure to file state income tax returns.

Under federal guidelines, Psaltis is subject to a sentence of up to two years in federal prison without parole, a fine of up to $200,000 and an order of restitution.

A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office. The case, which was investigated by an IRS criminal investigation team, is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Mohlhenrich.