U.S. Attorney's Office,Eastern District of Texas:
BEAUMONT (KYTX) - A federal grand jury has indicted a Nacogdoches, Texas couple for federal tax violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Reggie Cotton, 52, and Deborah Cotton, 57, were indicted on June 20, 2012 and charged with conspiracy to make a false income tax return and two counts of making a false income tax return.
According to the indictment, it is alleged that beginning in 2002, the Cottons conspired to conceal income they received from their employment with D&R Cleaning Services in an attempt to avoid paying federal income tax due totaling $45,361.00 and $52,451.00 for 2004 and 2005. Additionally, it is alleged that the Cottons filed false income tax returns which did not include a Schedule C, Profit and Loss From Business for D&R Cleaning Services for 2004 and 2005.
The defendants are scheduled for an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zachary Hawthorn on July 10, 2012.
If convicted, the defendants each face up to 5 years in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by the IRS and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Reynaldo P. Morin.
A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
