Former millionaire fugitive faces new federal charges
By Josh Rojas, Reporter
Last Updated: Monday, September 10, 2012
PINELLAS COUNTY --
Former Pinellas County fugitive, John Stanton, who once claimed his company was worth hundreds of millions of dollars, was recently captured by U.S. marshals in Orlando. The business man is also facing some new charges.
The U.S. Attorney's Office indicted Stanton, 63, on eight charges that were unsealed on Monday. The new federal charges include corrupt interference with IRS laws and failure to file a tax return for multiple years.
For the past 10 months, Stanton has been a fugitive on the run from U.S. marshals. He fled after a Hillsborough judge sentenced him to jail for failure to pay his ex-wife $6 million in support. Stanton was arrested in Orlando on Friday.
Stanton's from Belleair and once claimed his company, Cast Crete, was worth $269 million. But during his divorce, Stanton told the judge he was broke, even though he was wearing a $14,000 Rolex watch in court at the time.
His ex-wife, Susan Stanton, told our partners at the Tampa Bay Times that she believes Stanton's hiding all of his money with help from friends and business partners. Susan Stanton moved to California and said he ex-husband cut off health insurance for she and their diabetic 13-year-old son.
Stanton made his first appearance before an Orlando judge on Monday and was denied a bond because prosecutors said he's a flight risk. Stanton will be extradited back to the Tampa Bay area.
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The new federal charges include corrupt interference with IRS laws and failure to file a tax return for multiple years.
9.5.11.3.2.1 (09-09-2004)
Corrupt or Forcible Interference
The elements essential to constitute an offense under this section are: corruptly, or by force, or threats of force (including any threatening letter or communication), endeavored to impede or obstruct the due administration of the Internal Revenue laws.
This section provides for the punishment of threats or threatening acts against agents of the IRS, officers or employees of the United States and/or members of the families of such persons due to the performance by such agents or officers or employees of his/her official duties.
The Conference Committee’s Report (House and Senate) states that: "Subsection (a) of 26 USC §7212 is broader than 18 USC §111, relating to persons assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees of the United States while engaged in the performance of their official duties, in that 26 USC §7212(a) covers force or threats of force (including any threatening letter or communication) or corrupt solicitation. Threats of force have been defined as meaning threats of bodily harm to the officer or employee of the United States or members of the families of such persons, on account of the performance by such agents or officers or employees of their official duties."
"Corruptly" refers to an attempt to influence any official in his/her official capacity under this title by any improper inducement. For example, an offer of a bribe or a passing of a bribe to an IRS employee for the purpose of influencing the performance of his/her official duties is corrupt interference with the administration of Federal laws.
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