TAX NEWS - January 2009

California tax - Criminal Corner: california tax attorney

We are committed to closing California's $6.5 billion tax gap, defined as the difference between tax that is owed, and tax that is paid. Our special agents work cooperatively with law enforcement agencies throughout California to uncover illegal behaviors that contribute to the tax gap. These behaviors include underreporting income, overstating deductions, failing to file returns, failing to pay taxes due, and making illegal cash payments to employees.

Tax fraud is not a victimless crime. You can report suspected tax fraud on the FTB website at ftb.ca.gov, or by calling FTB at 800.540.3453.


Creston attorney sentenced to more than five years in prison for defrauding elderly clients

Attorney Alan Courtney, 54, was convicted December 18, 2008, of defrauding senior citizens of hundreds of thousands of dollars and sentenced to five years and four month in state prison. In September, a jury convicted Courtney on four counts of filing a false tax return, two counts of theft from an elder or dependent adult and one count of forgery.

This was a joint investigation with the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office and FTB.