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[quote]Lawyer: Pilot believed she was tax exempt
Pilot Vernice Kuglin did not file income tax returns on $920,000 in earnings because she believed the federal tax code did not apply to her, her lawyer told federal court jurors Tuesday.
Kuglin, 58, is charged with six counts of tax evasion, and with filing false W-4 forms for the period 1996 to 2001. Conviction carries up to 30 years in prison and $1.5 million in fines.
Federal prosecutor Joe Murphy said Kuglin "had a lot of income" during that time, but she "claimed to be exempt from paying withholding tax.''
In opening arguments Tuesday before U.S. Dist. Judge Jon McCalla, defense attorney Larry Becraft told jurors they must decide if Kuglin acted with criminal intent.
Kuglin has lived in Memphis since 1985 when she was hired as a pilot for FedEx.
She testified she is now on a personal leave.
Kuglin testified she questioned whether payment of taxes is "voluntary" or "voluntary compliance" as indicated on some federal documents she read aloud in court.
- Shirley Downing
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This was from the Memphis paper last Wednesday. Haven't found documentation on a verdict.
As a lawyer friend once told me, not paying taxes may not be illegal, however, falsifying a tax return is a federal crime.
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When life hands you a lemon, say "Oh yeah, I like lemons. What else you got?"
Henry Rollins
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