Former state Rep. Jamieson indicted for tax evasion
July 27, 2009 at 1:58 pm by Scott Henry in News
Former Rep. Jeanette Jamieson, D-Toccoa
You remember state Rep. Jeanette Jamieson, D-Toccoa: She’s the veteran lawmaker who finally lost her 12th bid for reelection to a Republican challenger last year after it was revealed that she owed more than $45,000 in back state taxes. Did we mention that her day job is as an accountant and tax preparer?
Well, apparently, Attorney General Thurbert Baker didn’t think Jamieson’s gaffe was as funny as we did. According to Dick Pettys at Insider Advantage, Baker has charged his former House colleague with two counts of evading state income taxes.
Reports Pettys:
According to the announcement, count 1 alleges that in calendar year 2006, Jamieson had at least $127,000 in adjusted gross income, including income from her tax return preparation business and over $14,000 in income from her service in the Legislature, but had only $61.68 withheld from her income for state purposes and failed to file a state income tax return for the year.
Count 2 charges that during calendar year 2007, she had at least $61,000 in adjusted gross income but had only $85.08 withheld for state income tax purposes and failed to file a state return for calendar year 2007.
If convicted, she could face a possible sentence of one to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $100,000 on each count.
The Georgia Department of Revenue has long been such a toothless, bumbling agency that’s a wonder anyone bothers to pay his state taxes. And I can’t remember the last time I heard of someone facing hard time for evasion of state income taxes. Which leads me to wonder if this high-profile indictment is intended to burnish Baker’s credibility among swing voters as a crusader for law and order — similar to his vigorous prosecution of Genarlow Wilson.
(Photo by Joeff Davis)
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