South Carolina Department of Revenue investigators have arrested eleven lowcountry residents, including five from Berkeley County, Tuesday for the “willful attempt to evade or defeat a tax,” authorities stated.
According to officials, the employees submitted fraudulent W-4 forms to Boeing claiming to be exempt from South Carolina income taxes and failed to file state income tax returns.
With total earnings over $2.2 million, the individuals collectively evaded paying $99,729 in individual income taxes to the state of South Carolina, officials claimed.
Those who’ve been charged, according to SCDOR are:
- Christina Bradley, 42, of Berkeley County evaded $7,119 in state income taxes for 2012-2014 (3 charges).
- Priscilla Burbage, 31, of Berkeley County evaded $8,427 in state income taxes for 2011-2014 (4 charges).
- Allen Byrd, 41, of Charleston County evaded $18,754 in state income taxes for 2011-2014 (4 charges).
- Joseph Canady, Jr., 30, of Charleston County evaded $5,536 in state income taxes for 2011, 2012, and 2014 (3 charges).
- Bernadette Francis, 38, of Berkeley County evaded $9,594 in state income taxes for 2011-2014 (4 charges).
- David Griffin, Jr., 35, of Charleston County evaded $6,496 in state income taxes for 2012-2014 (3 charges).
- George Hearn III, 40, of Berkeley County evaded $9,148 in state income taxes for 2012-2014 (3 charges).
- Shekere Jones, 42, of Dorchester County evaded paying $4,985 in state income taxes for tax years 2012-2014 (3 charges).
- Miranda Rights, 57, of Berkeley County evaded $12,404 in state income taxes for 2012-2014 (3 charges).
- Wylie Runey, Jr., 52, of Charleston County evaded $7,678 in state income taxes for 2012-2014 (3 charges).
- Rodney Smalls, 43, of Charleston County evaded $9,588 in state income taxes for 2012-2014 (3 charges).
In a statement to ABC News 4, Boeing said the employees have all been suspended.
“We are aware that the state of South Carolina has brought tax-related charges against certain individuals in our workforce. We have cooperated with the state in the months leading up to today’s announcement, and we will continue to cooperate with the state and the Department of Revenue until these individual matters are closed,” the statement says. “While we will not interfere with the state’s investigation and processing of these matters, we will address any misconduct by Boeing employees in the context of the company’s processes and policies.”
Officials stated that investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected. The Boeing workers are being held at The Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Facility in Charleston County. If convicted, the defendants face up to $10,000 in fines and/or up to 5 years in prison per charge.
The SCDOR would like to remind taxpayers that individual income tax returns are due April 18, 2016. For more information regarding individual income taxes, please visit dor.sc.gov/iit.
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