Department of Revenue News Release

JEFFERSON CITY - The Missouri Department of Revenue's Criminal Investigation Bureau assisted the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney's Office and the Franklin County Sheriff's Department with the investigation and ultimate arrest of a Sullivan man accused of not reporting income he allegedly obtained in a fraudulent scheme.

Richard Leo Miller of Sullivan is charged with filing false Missouri income tax returns in 2008, 2009 and 2010.  He allegedly failed to report income he received during those three years.  He is also charged with theft and/or stealing of more than $25,000.  He allegedly defrauded a woman from St. Clair, MO, and it's this allegedly stolen income upon which he did not pay taxes.

According to investigators, Miller on several occasions asked the woman from St. Clair for money for his roofing business.  Investigations showed that Miller either cashed the woman's checks or deposited the money directly into his own account, and that he did not use the funds to finance any roofing enterprise.

Miller was arrested Dec. 2 by Deputy Chris Ehrenreich of the Shelby County (MO) Sheriff's Department.  He is free on a $25,000 bond.  

"It isn't fair to law-abiding citizens when others try to avoid their responsibility to pay the income taxes they owe," Alana M. Barragán-Scott, director of the Missouri Department of Revenue.  "This would be especially true if the income was obtained in a fraudulent manner from an innocent victim.  I appreciate the efforts and the cooperation of the Franklin County authorities on this case."  

As in all criminal cases, the charges against the defendant are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until or unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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