Wright v. Commissioner

REBECCA WRIGHT, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent BRIAN W. WRIGHT, Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent

Wright v. Commissioner

No. 19878-98; No. 19879-98

United States Tax Court

T.C. Memo 2000-336; 2000 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 397; 80 T.C.M. 607; T.C.M. (RIA) 54103;

November 1, 2000, Filed

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">*397 Decisions will be entered pursuant to Rule 155.

Judy E. Hamilton, for petitioners.

Christine V. Olsen and Timothy F. Salel, for respondent.

Wells, Thomas B.

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WELLS

MEMORANDUM FINDINGS OF FACT AND OPINION

WELLS, CHIEF JUDGE: In these consolidated cases, respondent determined the following deficiencies: $ 5,656, $ 59,908, and $ 11,208, respectively, for taxable years 1992 through 1994. Respondent also determined that Brian Wright (petitioner) is liable for the fraud penalty, pursuant to section 6663, ^{section 6662(a), for the taxable years 1992 through 1994, in the amounts of $ 1,131, $ 11,982, and $ 2,242, respectively. Petitioners concede the additional income determined by respondent in the notice of deficiency and present only the following issues for us to address: (1) Whether petitioner is liable for the fraud penalty pursuant to section 6663 for 1992, 1993, and 1994; and (2) if the fraud penalty is not applicable, whether petitioners are liable for">*398 the accuracy-related penalty pursuant to section 6662(a) for 1992, 1993, and 1994.}

FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts have been stipulated and are so found. The stipulated facts are incorporated herein by reference and are found as facts in the instant cases. Petitioners resided in California at the time they filed their petitions in the instant cases.

Petitioners were married, and filed joint tax returns, during 1992, 1993, and 1994. During those years, petitioner was a certified financial planner. Petitioner earned a B.S. degree in business administration from Regis College. After college, petitioner took numerous accounting and tax classes. 2000 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 397">*399 On March 13, 1997, after a 1-week jury trial, petitioner was found guilty of 1 count of bank fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. secs. 1344 and 2, 27 counts of embezzlement by a bank employee in violation of 18 U.S.C. sec. 656, 1 count of money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. secs. 1957 and 2, and 3 counts of filing false tax returns (for the taxable years 1992, 1993, and 1994) in violation of section 7206(1).

Petitioner's conviction on the foregoing counts stemmed from his involvement with trusts established for the benefit of Arleen Millyard. During November 1978, Mrs. Millyard's husband established a trust at Security Pacific National Bank because of her alcoholism and lack of understanding of basic financial issues. The trust was meant to ensure the physical and financial well-being of Mrs. Millyard in the event of her husband's demise. During 1991, petitioner became a trust officer for Security Pacific National Bank, which later merged into Bank of America. Petitioner was the trust officer for the Millyard trust.

Bank of America has a written policy and internal rules of conduct that expressly prohibit its">*400 trust officers from accepting cash or gratuities from its customers. Petitioner was provided a copy of those rules and signed a statement acknowledging reviewing those rules at the time of his employment. Each year, Bank of America requires its employees to certify their awareness of the bank's policies, including the prohibition against receiving money from trust clients. Each year petitioner signed a statement that he had read the bank's policies. At trial, petitioner acknowledged that he was aware that he might lose his job if the bank learned that he was taking money from a trust client.

Mrs. Millyard kept a checking account at Bank of America. When a trust client sought to remove money from a trust account, the client would be asked to complete a "Request for Transfer" form. Petitioner authorized numerous transfers from the trust to Mrs. Millyard's checking account. Mrs. Millyard wrote many checks for the benefit of petitioners, which were deposited into their accounts.

Petitioner knew that checks in excess of $ 10,000 would have been noticed and investigated by Bank of America. Petitioner also knew that if any of the checks were made out directly to him, he would lose his job. ">*401 Checks in amounts less than $ 10,000 would not appear on the bank's large item report. All of the checks written by Mrs. Millyard for the benefit of petitioners were under $ 10,000. Mrs. Millyard, on occasion, would write several checks to petitioners over a short period of time. While each check was less that $ 10,000, the total amount transferred to petitioners over such a period was substantially more than $ 10,000. On three occasions, Mrs. Millyard wrote multiple checks on the same day, the total of which exceeded $ 10,000; however, each individual check was in an amount below the detection threshold of $ 10,000. 2000 Tax Ct. Memo LEXIS 397">*402 Each year, Bank of America conducted a review of its trust accounts. Petitioner prepared the reports for Mrs. Millyard's trust accounts. One item on the report is the total amount withdrawn or distributed from the trust during a given year. On the report for the period April 1993 through April 1994, petitioner falsely reported the amount transferred from Mrs. Millyard's trust. During the period April 1993 through April 1994, Mrs. Millyard withdrew substantial amounts from her trusts, e.g., $ 23,500 on May 5, 1993, $ 35,000 on July 1, 1993, $ 10,000 on November 10, 1993, and $ 23,500 on February 2, 1994. Petitioner reported that Mrs. Millyard withdrew only $ 23,500 from the trust. Bank of America would have been concerned had it seen that approximately $ 100,000 had been taken from the trust. Another item on the annual trust report inquired whether the trust officer faced any potential conflict of interest or legal noncompliance. Petitioner wrote "non-applicable" on the report, but he knew that accepting money from Mrs. Millyard presented a potential conflict of interest.

Petitioner knowingly engaged in a scheme to obtain money from a federally insured bank by making false statements">*403 or promises. Petitioner embezzled funds of the bank and acted with intent to injure or defraud the bank. Petitioner engaged in monetary transactions using money he knew was obtained through criminal activity. Petitioner's 1992, 1993, and 1994 tax returns were false as to a material matter. Petitioner did not believe his tax returns for 1992, 1993, and 1994 to be true and correct as to every material matter and willfully subscribed to the false returns with the intent to violate the law. Petitioner knew that the funds he embezzled were not gifts.

Petitioner Rebecca Wright prepared petitioners' Federal income tax return for 1992. She made no inquiry into whether the funds received from Mrs. Millyard were taxable income. On their income tax return for 1992, petitioners reported adjusted gross income of $ 67,927.95. For 1992, petitioners' actual adjusted gross income was $ 87,727.95. For 1992, petitioners omitted embezzlement income of $ 19,800. For the years 1993 and 1994, petitioners' returns were prepared by Carolyn Witt, C.P.A. On their 1993 Federal income tax return, petitioners reported adjusted gross income of $ 97,984. For 1993, petitioners' actual adjusted gross income was $ ">*404 267,484. For 1993, petitioners omitted embezzlement income of $ 169,500. On their Federal income tax return for 1994, petitioners reported adjusted gross income of $ 97,984. For 1994, petitioners' actual adjusted gross income was $ 136,184. Petitioners omitted embezzlement income of $ 38,200 from their 1994 return. Petitioners did not inform Ms. Witt about any of the embezzlement income.

OPINION

We must decide whether petitioner is liable for the fraud penalty pursuant to section 6663 for taxable years 1992, 1993, and 1994. Section 6663 provides:

   SEC. 6663. IMPOSITION OF FRAUD PENALTY.

     (a) Imposition of Penalty. -- If any part of any

   underpayment of tax required to be shown on a return is due to

   fraud, there shall be added to the tax an amount equal to 75

   percent of the portion of the underpayment which is attributable

   to fraud.

     (b) Determination of Portion Attributable to Fraud. -- If

   the Secretary establishes that any portion of an underpayment is

   attributable to fraud, the entire underpayment shall be treated

   as attributable to fraud, except with respect to any portion of

">*405    the underpayment which the taxpayer establishes (by a

   preponderance of the evidence) is not attributable to fraud.

     (c) Special Rule for Joint Returns. -- In the case of joint

   return, this section shall not apply with respect to a spouse

   unless some part of the underpayment is due to fraud of such

   spouse.

The burden of proof in respect of the issue of fraud must be carried by the Commissioner by clear and convincing evidence. See sec. 7454(a); Rule 142(b). To establish the existence of fraud, respondent must prove by clear and convincing evidence that petitioner underpaid his income tax and that some part of the underpayment was due to fraud. See Clayton v. Commissioner, 102 T.C. 632">102 T.C. 632, 102 T.C. 632">646 (1994); Recklitis v. Commissioner, 91 T.C. 874">91 T.C. 874, 91 T.C. 874">909 (1988).

Fraud is established by proving that a taxpayer intended to evade tax believed to be owing by conduct intended to conceal, mislead, or otherwise prevent the collection of such tax. The Commissioner need not establish that tax evasion was a primary motive of the taxpayer but may satisfy the burden by showing that a tax- evasion motive played any part in the">*406 taxpayer's conduct, including conduct designed to conceal another crime. See 102 T.C. 632">Clayton v. Commissioner, supra at 647; 91 T.C. 874">Recklitis v. Commissioner, supra at 909.

Fraudulent intent may be established by circumstantial evidence and reasonable inferences drawn from the record. See 102 T.C. 632">Clayton v. Commissioner, supra at 647. In Bradford v. Commissioner, 796 F.2d 303">796 F.2d 303, 796 F.2d 303">307-308 (9th Cir. 1986), affg. T.C. Memo 1984-601, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit articulated a nonexclusive list of factors which demonstrate fraudulent intent. These "badges of fraud" include: (1) Understating income; (2) maintaining inadequate records; (3) failing to file tax returns; (4) giving implausible or inconsistent explanations of behavior; (5) concealing assets; (6) failing to cooperate with tax authorities; (7) engaging in illegal activities; (8) attempting to conceal illegal activities; (9) dealing in cash; and (10) failing to make estimated tax payments. While no single factor is necessarily sufficient to establish fraud, the existence of several indicia constitutes persuasive circumstantial evidence. See 796 F.2d 303">Bradford v. Commissioner, supra at 303.">*407

Many of the foregoing badges of fraud are present. Petitioner's substantial understatement of income tax from the omission of the embezzlement income in 1992, 1993, and 1994 is a badge of fraud. As conclusively established in the criminal case, petitioner knew that the funds he received from Mrs. Millyard were not gifts. Petitioners have stipulated that petitioner received embezzlement income. Moreover, petitioners stipulated that they did not report this embezzlement income on their tax returns. Petitioner understated his income in the years in issue by 36 percent, 24 percent, and 60 percent, respectively. Such a pattern of substantial discrepancies between petitioner's actual income and reported income constitutes evidence of intent to defraud. See Kohrs v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 1985-115.

Failure to keep records is another badge of fraud. See Truesdell v. Commissioner, 89 T.C. 1280">89 T.C. 1280, 89 T.C. 1280">1302 (1987). Petitioner did not keep any records of the amounts he embezzled.

The illegal nature of petitioner's activities and his concealment of these illegal activities are additional badges of fraud. See United States v. Palmer, 809 F.2d 1504">809 F.2d 1504, 809 F.2d 1504">1505-1506 (11th Cir. 1987);">*408 Davis v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 1991-333 (embezzler who issued checks for less than $ 10,000 in order to avoid detection liable for fraud penalty). Petitioner went to great lengths to conceal his embezzlement activities. In order to hide his theft, petitioner caused Mrs. Millyard to write checks to accounts controlled by him or his wife in amounts less than $ 10,000. On three occasions he caused Mrs. Millyard to write on 1 day several checks for his benefit that totaled over $ 10,000. During the period April 1993 through April 1994, Mrs. Millyard withdrew substantial amounts from her trust. On the report to the bank, petitioner reported that Mrs. Millyard withdrew merely $ 23,500 from the trust. The bank would have been concerned had it seen that approximately $ 100,000 had been taken from the trust. By incorrectly reporting the amounts withdrawn from the trust, petitioner attempted to conceal his embezzlement activities.

Petitioner's receipt of embezzlement income by defrauding an elderly client of her funds was the underpinning of virtually every count in the indictment against him, including bank fraud, money laundering, embezzlement, and the filing of false income">*409 tax returns. There is no question that petitioner sought to conceal his receipt of Mrs. Millyard's money because of the illegal nature of his activities. He knew that the receipt of the funds violated numerous banking and criminal provisions. The likelihood that petitioner also had the intent to conceal his illegal activities to avoid being charged with the nontax crimes does not negate his intent to evade tax. See 102 T.C. 632">Clayton v. Commissioner, supra at 647-648 (Commissioner need not establish that tax evasion was the primary motive; it is enough to demonstrate that tax evasion played a role in the taxpayer's conduct).

The fact that petitioner concealed his receipt of the funds from illegal activities from his accountant and return preparer, Ms. Witt, is relevant to the issue of fraud. See Duffey v. Commissioner, 91 T.C. 81">91 T.C. 81 (1988); Langworthy v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 1998-218 (taxpayer's failure to be forthcoming with his return preparer was evidence of fraud). A taxpayer who relies on others to keep his records and prepare his tax returns may not withhold information from those persons relative to taxable events and then escape criminal responsibility">*410 for the resulting false returns. See United States v. O'Keefe, 825 F.2d 314">825 F.2d 314, 825 F.2d 314">318 (11th Cir. 1987); United States v. Garavaglia, 566 F.2d 1056">566 F.2d 1056 (6th Cir. 1977). In preparing petitioners' income tax returns for 1993 and 1994, Ms. Witt relied on the information provided by petitioners to prepare those returns.

The sophistication, education, and intelligence of the taxpayer are relevant considerations in determining whether a taxpayer has fraudulent intent. See Niedringhaus v. Commissioner, 99 T.C. 202">99 T.C. 202, 99 T.C. 202">211 (1992); Stephenson v. Commissioner, 79 T.C. 995">79 T.C. 995, 79 T.C. 995">1005- 1006 (1982), affd. 748 F.2d 331">748 F.2d 331(6th Cir. 1984); Iley v. Commissioner, 19 T.C. 631">19 T.C. 631, 19 T.C. 631">635 (1952). Petitioner was a bank trust officer with a background in accounting. As a bank trust officer with a degree in business administration as well as extensive training in accounting, petitioner was "not a person who could fail to understand what the law requires for him under the circumstances." Halle v. Commissioner, 7 T.C. 245">7 T.C. 245, 7 T.C. 245">250 (1946), affd. 175 F.2d 500">175 F.2d 500 (2d Cir. 1949). Given petitioner's education and work experience, "it asks too">*411 much" for the Court to "believe that petitioner had no idea his embezzlement income was taxable." Myers v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 1980-262 (bank trust officer must have known embezzled funds were taxable income). Petitioner had the sophistication to know that he was required to report the funds he received from Mrs. Millyard on his return.

Petitioner's criminal convictions raise a strong inference that petitioner possessed the willfulness necessary to satisfy the intent element. See Wilson v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 1994-454. Indeed, in McGee v. Commissioner, 61 T.C. 249">61 T.C. 249, 61 T.C. 249">260 (1973), affd. 519 F.2d 1121">519 F.2d 1121 (5th Cir. 1975), we stated:

   it is a fair inference that a man who will misappropriate

   another's funds to his own use through misrepresentation and



   concealment will not hesitate to misrepresent and conceal his



   receipt of those same funds from the Government with the intent

   to evade tax.

Petitioner was convicted of embezzlement in violation of 18 U.S.C. sec. 656, money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. sec. 1957, and filing false returns">*412 for the years 1992 through 1994 in violation of section 7206(1). ^{Williams v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 1992-153. On the basis of the foregoing, we sustain respondent's determination of the fraud penalty against petitioner for each year in issue. Consistent with our holding on this point, we need not consider respondent's alternative determination that petitioners are liable for accuracy-related penalties for the years in issue.}

To reflect the foregoing,

Decisions will be entered pursuant to Rule 155.

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Footnotes

• 1. Unless otherwise noted, all section references are to the Internal Revenue Code in effect for the years in issue, and all Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.↩

• 2. Among the classes that petitioner took were:

  ↩

  Year	Class	Hours
  1988	Corporate Tax II	45
  	Advanced Accounting	45
  	Audit	45
  	Practice	48
  	Audit	48
  	Theory	48
  	Law	48
  1991	CPA Exam: Practice I	15
  	CPA Exam: Practice II	15
  	CPA Exam: Theory	15
  	CA State Income Tax	1
  	Trust Law & Estate Planning	1
  	Investment & Inheritance	1
  1993	Chartered Financial Analyst	60

• 3. Throughout his embezzlement activity, petitioner caused Mrs. Millyard to write numerous checks to him, to his investment and bank accounts, and to petitioner Rebecca Wright. Most of the checks were written to petitioners' bank or investment accounts. During 1992, 1993, and 1994 petitioners received the following amounts from Mrs. Millyard:

  Date    Check No.       Payee           Amount

  ____    _________       _____           ______

  10/14/92   1042      Rebecca Wright         $ 9,000

  11/3/92    1201      San Diego County CU       7,800

  12/4/92    1282      San Diego County CU       2,000

  12/23/92   1389      Brian Wright           1,000

  1/21/93    1318      San Diego County CU       7,500

  1/21/93    1319      Brian Wright           2,500

  2/26/93    1356      San Diego County CU       1,000

  4/5/93    1407      Charles Schwab, Inc.       8,500

  4/16/93    1406      Charles Schwab, Inc.       8,500

  4/24/93    1410      Charles Schwab, Inc.       7,500

  4/30/93    1408      Charles Schwab, Inc.       5,500

  5/5/93    1446      20th Century Fund        9,000

  5/15/93    1447      Charles Schwab, Inc.       9,000

  5/18/93    1450      20th Century Fund        8,500

  5/28/93    1451      Charles Schwab, Inc.       8,500

  5/28/93    1452      20th Century Fund        8,500

  6/9/93    1454      Charles Schwab, Inc.       8,500

  7/3/93    1499      20th Century Fund        8,500

  7/6/93    1495      Rohr Credit Union        9,500

  7/26/93    1497      Rohr Credit Union        8,500

  8/2/93    1564      San Diego County CU       8,500

  9/12/93    1565      San Diego County CU       7,500

  9/27/93    1498      Charles Schwab, Inc.       8,500

  9/30/93    1487      Charles Schwab, Inc.       8,500

  9/30/93    1599      San Diego County CU       1,000

  11/10/93   1486      Charles Schwab, Inc.       8,500

  12/10/93   1655      San Diego County CU       7,500

  3/12/94    1337      Rebecca Wright          9,500

  3/26/94    1738      Rebecca Wright          8,500

  4/15/94    1716      Rebecca Wright           200

  6/14/94    1739      Brian Wright           9,500

  7/19/94    1740      Brian Wright           8,500

  8/4/94    1765      Rebecca Wright          1,000

  9/21/94    1996      Rebecca Wright          1,000↩

• 4. See Wilson v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 1994-454 (declaring that convictions under sec. 7206 are highly persuasive evidence of intent to evade taxes); Estate of Sawczak v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 1993-210↩ (same).