DICKINSON, N.D. - Two people and a Dickinson, N.D., business were indicted in federal court for tax fraud and conspiracy charges, according to a news release issued Wednesday.
Michael Fisher, Amiel Schaff and Fisher Sand and Gravel Co. Inc., all of Dickinson, face charges for tax returns filed for 2001 through 2004, a release from U.S. Attorney Drew Wrigley states.
A grand jury met in April and returned an indictment with the following charges:
- Fisher is accused of filing false corporate tax returns for the business in 2001 and 2002, aiding and assisting in the filing of false corporate tax returns in 2003 and 2004 and filing false individual returns for tax years 2001 through 2004.
- Schaff is accused of aiding and assisting in the filing of false corporate tax returns for the business for tax years 2001 through 2004.
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The indictment claims Fisher, vice president and minority shareholder of Fisher Sand and Gravel; Schaff, the company's chief financial officer and treasurer, and the company filed false corporate returns that deducted personal expenses of Fisher and other family members as business expenses.
The personal expenses include construction and furnishings for Fisher's home and rental real estate owned by Fisher through Badlands LLC, household and utility bills, vacations, credit card bills, legal expenses and medical expenses, according to the indictment.
In addition, Fisher, Schaff and the company filed false tax returns for Fisher that failed to report payments from the company for Fisher's personal expenses on his individual tax returns, court documents state.
The maximum penalty for conspiracy to defraud the United States government is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for the other counts is three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
A trial is scheduled for July 22 in Bismarck.
