Department of Revenue News Release

UNION - A Sullivan, MO-area man has been convicted and sentenced in Franklin County Circuit Court after entering a plea relating to three felony counts of filing false Missouri income tax returns and two felony counts of theft.

A 14-month joint investigation between the Missouri Department of Revenue's Criminal Tax Investigation Bureau and the Franklin County Sheriff's Department found that Richard L. Miller had obtained through deceit more than $230,000 from a Franklin County woman. The victim was duped into supplying operating capital for a nonexistent business.

The case was referred to Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Robert E. Parks for prosecution.

Miller, 47, was indicted by a Franklin County grand jury for theft and filing false Missouri individual income tax returns for the years of 2007, 2008 and 2009.  The false returns were related to the fact that the income Miller illegally obtained was not reported on the income tax returns.

Miller appeared in court on October 30, 2012, and entered an "Alford Plea" to the charges.   An Alford Plea is a plea entered by the defendant that acknowledges the state has sufficient evidence to prove its case.  Miller was sentenced to seven years in prison on the count of stealing or theft in excess of $25,000, and five total years on a lesser stealing charge and the three counts of filing false tax returns.  However, execution of the sentence was suspended and Miller was placed on five years of supervised probation. One of the conditions of probation is that Miller pay restitution, and a restitution hearing is scheduled for Dec. 18 in Franklin County Circuit Court. 

"When tax fraud occurs, the Missouri Department of Revenue investigates the crime and works with prosecutors to bring these criminals to justice," said Department Director Alana M. Barragán-Scott.  "Tax cheats and those who financially exploit others will be held accountable for their actions." 

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