Truesee's Daily Wonder

September 17, 2010 3:26 PM

JOHN C. ENSSLIN

THE GAZETTE

A Colorado Springs man was sentenced Friday to one year in federal prison after he was found guilty of filing false liens against an IRS agent.

Judge Marcia Krieger imposed the sentence on Ronald Ray Hoodenpyle, 68, in U.S. District Court in Denver She also ordered him to submit to electronic monitoring within 72 hours. Hoodenpyle remains free on bond until he reports to prison on or before Oct. 29.

On July 17, a jury convicted Hoodenpyle following a three-day trial. He was charged with placing false liens against the agent’s property in Jefferson County in retaliation for IRS liens placed against Hoodenpyle’s property for unpaid taxes.

ORIGINAL STORY

Ronald Hoodenpyle gets jail time for bogus lien on IRS agent's home

J. David McSwane

Mon., Jun. 21 2010

3:56PM

Colorado Crimes

  One gutsy Colorado Springs man is facing hard time after he filed a fraudulent lien against the home of an IRS agent in retaliation for a lien the IRS placed on his home.

Ronald Roy Hoodenpyle, come on down!

Hoodenpyle, 68, was convicted after a three-day trial last week of filing a false lien on the Jefferson County home of an IRS Revenue officer who he said owed an excess of $1 million in April 2008. He faces up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

You've gotta give this Springs rebel credit for putting his (fake) money where his mouth is.

It's one thing to not pay taxes, and it's another thing to fight the IRS (and probably lose). But all-out war on the tax man is nothing short of legendary.

Get more details from the U.S. Attorney's Office release below:

COLORADO SPRINGS MAN FOUND GUILTY OF FILING FALSE LIEN AGAINST IRS EMPLOYEE

DENVER -- A jury in U.S. District Court in Denver yesterday found Ronald Roy Hoodenpyle, age 68, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, guilty of filing a false lien against an IRS employee, U.S. Attorney David Gaouette and Special Agent in Charge of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Denver Field Division, Greg Jaramillo announced. The three day jury trial was before U.S. District Court Judge Marcia S. Krieger. Hoodenpyle, who is free on bond, is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Krieger on September 17, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on January 6, 2009.

According to the indictment, as well as facts presented to the jury during trial, on April 2, 2008, the defendant, Ronald Roy Hoodenpyle, filed a false lien against the real property owned by an IRS Revenue Officer. The false lien was filed in Jefferson County, Colorado, and stated that the Revenue Officer owed the defendant in excess of $1,000,000. Hoodenpyle knew that this statement was false.

Also during the trial, the prosecution played a videotape of an interview of Hoodenpyle in which he stated that he did not owe any income tax. It was then revealed that the IRS had filed liens against Hoodenpyle's property stating that he owed the IRS over $1,160,000. The government presented evidence that the defendant filed the false lien in retaliation for the IRS Revenue Officer's performing his professional duties.

Hoodenpyle faces not more than 10 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gain or loss from the offense. He could also be ordered to pay restitution to the IRS.

"Paying income tax is the responsibility of every single American," said U.S. Attorney David Gaouette. "If you intentionally evade paying taxes, there will be civil and criminal consequences. In this instance, the consequence is a potential federal prison sentence."

"I am very pleased with the guilty verdict," said Greg Jaramillo, Special Agent in Charge of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Denver Field Division. "This should send a strong message to those individuals who would use intimidation and harassment against IRS employees to attempt to impede tax administration."

The defendant is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Kirsch.