A 47-year-old Brandon Township man was arraigned May 24 in federal court in Detroit on a 22-count indictment with charges including obstruction of the administration of Internal Revenue law, signing false IRS forms under penalty of perjury and causing casinos to file false reports.
The indictment charges that between January 2000 and December 2003, Christopher Aaron provided false Social Security numbers to various casinos so that gambling winnings reported to the IRS would not be reported under his true Social Security number. His alleged actions caused the casinos to file false forms with the IRS, reflecting amounts won by the defendant, but which contained a false Social Security number.
‘These charges underscore the seriousness with which my office and the IRS view individuals who provide false information to financial institutions, including casinos, in an attempt to hide income from the IRS,? said U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Murphy.
Aaron also allegedly signed IRS forms under penalty of perjury in which he provided false Social Security numbers to the IRS in connection with his gambling winnings. The defendant then filed false federal income tax returns, indicating far less gambling income that he actually received.
The total gross winnings reported under the false Social Security numbers was more than $3 million, but due to Aaron’s alleged actions, it was impossible for the IRS to accurately determine his net income or loss due to gambling.
Aaron faces a maximum term of imprisonment of three years on counts one through 18 of the indictment and a maximum term of up to five years on counts 19 through 22. The actual sentence if convicted would depend on a number of factors, including prior criminal record (if any), and advisory sentencing guidelines. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne F. Pratt.