Arthur Farnsworth
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Arthur L. Farnsworth (born 1962) is an American politician and convicted tax protester. His tax case is notable as evidence found by the government helped the government indict actor Wesley Snipes on tax charges.
Farnsworth received his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Widener University and a master's degree in engineering science from Penn State. He has run for a number of offices as a member of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania. Most recently, Farnsworth served as township auditor for West Rockhill Township. He also served as the treasurer of the Pennsylvania Libertarian Party. Farnsworth ran as a candidate for the United States House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district in 2004 and drew 3,710 votes.[1]
In November 2004 Farnsworth was arrested on charges of tax evasion of approximately $87,000 in Federal income taxes under 26 U.S.C. ยง 7201 for years 1998, 1999, and 2000. On the campaign trail as well as on his personal website, Farnsworth advocated his beliefs that the federal law makes the payment of income taxes voluntary (see the "income taxes are voluntary" argument).
A federal grand jury alleged the electrical engineer failed to pay taxes for three years on more than $221,000 in income and tried to conceal his earnings by transferring assets to fraudulent trusts and overseas bank accounts.
During the case, investigators found that one of the trust funds belonged to actor Wesley Snipes. Snipes himself was indicted on tax charges in October 2006. [2]
On December 11, 2006, a federal jury in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania found Farnsworth guilty of tax evasion.[1] He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 3, 2007.[3]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Docket entry 134, Dec. 11, 2006, United States v. Farnsworth, case no. 2:04-cr-00707-JP-1, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Division.
