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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 24, 2005 Four men face charges of filing false documents with the IRS Federal prosecutors say the men falsely informed on certain government officials By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune Three local men have been indicted on federal charges of filing false documents with the Internal Revenue Service to harass government officials. Kenneth Eugene Bozarth, 59, and 51-year-old Duane Harry Panter, both of Medford, and Michael Peter Stemac, 56, of Trail, were indicted Tuesday, according to a prepared statement from the U.S. Department of Justice in Portland. A North Bend man, 69-year-old Varley Steve Fitch, also was charged in the same case. The indictments allege the four men falsely reported under penalty of perjury that government officials and others had engaged in suspicious currency transactions in amounts ranging from $105,000 to $500 million. Intended to harass and retaliate against officials and other people with whom they had disputes, the men’s false reports sparked an IRS investigation, according to the justice department. "The whole purpose of this was just to get the IRS to look at this individual," said William Fitzgerald, assistant U.S. attorney. "It’s harassment." In most cases, the men allegedly filled out a standard IRS form, stating that they received cash from individuals, Fitzgerald said. In other cases, the defendants allegedly said they paid the named individuals, Fitzgerald said. Figures on all of the forms were fabricated, he said. Advertisement The four men were arrested on Aug. 11. Panter, Stemac and Bozarth are set for trial on Oct. 18 before U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken. Fitch is set for trial the following day. They face up to three years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each conviction. Working for the Oregon Citizens Alliance, Bozarth in 1993 led a petition for the conservative group to recall state Rep. John Watt, of Medford. The OCA that year pushed several anti-gay rights ballot measures in Medford and Jackson County and also sought to recall most of the Medford City Council for supporting a state law that would have banned discrimination against gays. The Rogue Valley Mall won a court injunction against Bozarth in 1994, barring him from collecting signatures for proposed ballot measures on issues ranging from mandatory prison sentence initiatives to measures targeting school choice and hourly wages. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail Four men face charges of filing false documents with the IRS ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Investments & Loans Advertisement s