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Federal authorities charged a Baltimore County man with failure to file federal income taxes on allegations that he took advantage of supporters of former President Donald Trump.Ian Richard Hawes, 32, was charged in U.S. District Court this week with one misdemeanor count of failure to file his 2016 federal income tax return.According to court documents, Federal Elections Commission paperwork and the internet archive, Hawes set up a political action committee called American Horizons in the spring of 2016. The documents state the PAC raised more than $1.1 million from thousands of donors over eight months by allegedly dangling the prospect of dinner with “the candidate” the PAC was supporting, Trump.But there was no dinner with Trump or anyone else, federal officials claim, and the PAC made no political contributions or political ad buys.Federal officials contend Hawes spent $440,000 to advertise the PAC on Facebook and $375,000 more on himself, from paying off personal credit card debt and student loans to allegedly renting a yacht, taking vacations and buying a car.Hawes answered the phone when 11 News called on Thursday, but he spoke through a statement, saying: “I have already filed a 2016 tax return, albeit not by the due date, and have made a payment to the Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $110,543, the amount the government contends is owed in their filing.”I have indicated to the U.S. Attorney’s Office that I do not dispute the charge and have signed an agreement to plead guilty. I take full responsibility for my failure to file a timely tax return.”Hawes told 11 News he has an attorney, and in the statement, said: “I look forward to finally settling this matter and moving forward with my life.”
Federal authorities charged a Baltimore County man with failure to file federal income taxes on allegations that he took advantage of supporters of former President Donald Trump.
Ian Richard Hawes, 32, was charged in U.S. District Court this week with one misdemeanor count of failure to file his 2016 federal income tax return.
According to court documents, Federal Elections Commission paperwork and the internet archive, Hawes set up a political action committee called American Horizons in the spring of 2016. The documents state the PAC raised more than $1.1 million from thousands of donors over eight months by allegedly dangling the prospect of dinner with “the candidate” the PAC was supporting, Trump.
But there was no dinner with Trump or anyone else, federal officials claim, and the PAC made no political contributions or political ad buys.
Federal officials contend Hawes spent $440,000 to advertise the PAC on Facebook and $375,000 more on himself, from paying off personal credit card debt and student loans to allegedly renting a yacht, taking vacations and buying a car.
Hawes answered the phone when 11 News called on Thursday, but he spoke through a statement, saying: “I have already filed a 2016 tax return, albeit not by the due date, and have made a payment to the Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $110,543, the amount the government contends is owed in their filing.
“I have indicated to the U.S. Attorney’s Office that I do not dispute the charge and have signed an agreement to plead guilty. I take full responsibility for my failure to file a timely tax return.”
Hawes told 11 News he has an attorney, and in the statement, said: “I look forward to finally settling this matter and moving forward with my life.”
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