Tax preparer pleads guilty in state case

By Staff
A Morgan County tax preparer pleaded guilty last week to two felony counts of making false statements under the penalties of perjury to the Alabama Department of Revenue.
Clinton George Scruggs, 60, of Trinity, entered the guilty plea before Morgan County Circuit Judge Sherrie Paler. The charges stem from Scruggs’ 1999 and 2000 Alabama tax returns.
Scruggs, owner and operator of Scruggs Accounting and Tax Service in Decatur filed Alabama income tax returns that he knew were false with the Alabama Department of Revenue.
As a condition of his plea, Scruggs must file his delinquent Alabama income tax returns for tax years 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 with the Alabama Department of Revenue and pay all tax and penalty due by March 31, 2008, and stop preparing income tax returns.
Scruggs will be sentenced on Feb. 28, 2008. The amount of restitution will be determined prior to the sentencing date.