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Extremists' new tool taxes sheriff, others Right-wingers use bogus IRS filings to turn in officials for tax fraud By JESSICA SMITH Jackson County Sheriff Bob Kennedy didn't earn $500 million last year. But that didn't stop someone from trying to turn Kennedy in to the Internal Revenue Service for tax fraud. At a press conference Friday, Kennedy said he and about a dozen other county officials and workers were recently notified of fraudulent IRS forms filed in their names. The filings imply that Kennedy and others failed to disclose earnings totaling $500 million or more. Sheriff's officials say the filings are the newest strategy used by "right-wing extremists" in their fight against taxes and governmental authority. The forms typically are filed to retaliate for actions by police or county workers. "Frankly, we know what these people are up to," said Detective Sgt. Rich Fogarty. "It's a harassment technique. They intimidate government workers for doing their job." A handful of the county's top officials - including Kennedy and District Attorney Mark Huddleston - learned recently that IRS tax form 8300 was filed in each of their names. The forms are used by businesses to report cash payments totaling more than $10,000. County planners, court officials and a couple of judges also were notified about form 8300 filings, Kennedy said. He said law enforcement officials are considering filing federal charges against unnamed suspects, but declined to be more specific. Kathleen Sulmonetti, an IRS investigator in Portland, said fraudulent 8300 filings are becoming increasingly popular with anti-government groups across the nation. "This is the newest thing they're doing in the hopes that it's going to trigger an audit," Sulmonetti said. "It's really meant just to cause trouble." Anyone notified of a filing they believe to be fraudulent can usually put the matter to rest by calling the IRS, Sulmonetti said. Local residents subjected to a fraudulent tax filing are encouraged to notify the sheriff's office at 774-6800. Residents can also call the IRS at 800-829-0433. According to county officials, the 8300 filings follow other tactics used by individuals and groups who want to disrupt local government. Property liens, challenges to state and federal laws and other claims are regularly filed with county courts, according to Jim Adams, court administrator. The court must process each claim, regardless of its legitimacy, he added. "The cumulative effect of this is that substantial taxpayer resources are used ... to examine these things," Adams said. "We have to be careful to assess (claims) to see if they have a valid point." But no court has upheld any of the claims against the county or county workers, Adams said. A representative of the Southern Oregon Militia, a government watchdog group, said the group does not condone fraud. "God, no," said Carl Worden, the militia's public liaison. "We don't like the idea of somebody putting false liens on property either." Reach reporter Jessica Smith at 776-4481, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.