Fresno, CA- The tax man is behind bars.......on tax day no less!

A criminal investigation by the IRS has resulted in the arrest of 65-year-old Arthur Burnett Lawson of Bakersfield.

Lawson, was a registered tax preparer, who specified in tax preparation, financial consulting and audit representation at his Bakersfield business, "Income Tax, etc."

He was arrested on a warrant stemming from a four-count tax evasion indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Fresno earlier this month.

According to prosecutors, Lawson allegedly prepared and signed false and fraudulent U.S. income tax returns for himself and his wife between 2002-03. Attorney's say Lawson stated that his taxable income was $0 and reported no tax due and owing. On his wife's taxes Lawson claimed her income to be $0, and said she was entitled to the Earned Income Credit, which is a federal income tax credit for low income working individuals and families. 

IRS officials say that Lawson knew he and his wife's taxable income was more then he reported. They believe he may have evaded paying around $60,000 in federal income taxes overall.

"It is crucial that those entrusted to guide the community in the accurate preparation of income taxes are beyond reproach in complying with the tax laws themselves. This case is yet another example of the vigorous criminal tax enforcement our office is undertaking in close partnership with IRS-Criminal Investigation," said Acting United States Attorney Lawrence G. Brown.

 Lawson is scheduled to make his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Fresno on Thursday. According to Brown, the penalties for each count of tax evasion could be up to five years in prison and a $100,000 fine.

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