Three Convicted In Tax Fraud Case
Three people were convicted of promoting a tax fraud scheme that involved clients in six states, Idaho’s U.S. Attorney Betty Richardson, reported this week.
Boise-area residents Gary Arthur DeMott, 62; Ava Gambler, 46; and Terry Roark, 57 were convicted of conspiracy to defraud the United States. DeMott and Gambler were convicted of aiding and assisting the preparation of false tax returns. In addition, DeMott was convicted of failing to file tax returns from 1996 to 1999.
DeMott, according to Richardson, founded the Idaho Sovereignty Association and its spin-offs in other Western states. Gambler and Roark worked for him.
The company advertised “land patents,” apparently to protect property from taxing authorities. It also provided “common law trusts,” designed to shield clients’ assets from the IRS and state tax commissions.