Tax protester trial begins
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2004 2:41 pm
By Max B. Baker, Star-Telegram Staff Writer
FORT WORTH, Texas - Anti-tax protesters from across the country braved a chilly reception inside and outside the federal courthouse Monday when Bedford businessman Richard Simkanin went on trial for the second time on charges of violating U.S. tax laws.
U.S. District Judge John McBryde closed the courtroom during jury selection. About 100 of Simkanin's supporters were ordered to leave the fourth floor of the courthouse while they waited for trial testimony to begin.
Simkanin, the 59-year-old owner of a small Bedford plastics manufacturing company, is accused of failing to withhold and pay $175,000 in taxes on employee wages and of filing 15 fraudulent refund claims for about $235,000.
Prosecutors also accuse him of failing to file individual tax returns.
FORT WORTH, Texas - Anti-tax protesters from across the country braved a chilly reception inside and outside the federal courthouse Monday when Bedford businessman Richard Simkanin went on trial for the second time on charges of violating U.S. tax laws.
U.S. District Judge John McBryde closed the courtroom during jury selection. About 100 of Simkanin's supporters were ordered to leave the fourth floor of the courthouse while they waited for trial testimony to begin.
Simkanin, the 59-year-old owner of a small Bedford plastics manufacturing company, is accused of failing to withhold and pay $175,000 in taxes on employee wages and of filing 15 fraudulent refund claims for about $235,000.
Prosecutors also accuse him of failing to file individual tax returns.