The Collin County Observer

News, Analysis & Opinion for Collin County

$4 million or $5 million; What's the difference?

02/25/10

Permalink 05:17:03 am, by bill Email , 268 words,   English (US)
Categories: News Clippings, Law, Crime & Punishment, Ethics

$4 million or $5 million; What's the difference?

This guy ought to get elected to something, he's got all the qualifications. His company, Pogue Construction ("A Name, you can Trust", according to its web site) in McKinney, has built many local city and county buildings.

Bill

=========

McKinney man guilty of federal tax income violations
By U.S. Department of Justice as reported in North Texas E-News
February 24, 2010

PLANO, Texas - U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced today that a McKinney, Texas man has pleaded guilty to federal income tax violations in the Eastern District of Texas.

Paul Pogue pleaded guilty to making false statements on his federal income tax returns today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Don D. Bush.

According to information presented in court, Pogue, who stated he was employed as a consultant for a construction company, acknowledged in court that he stated on his 2003 tax return that he only had taxable income of $4,594,052 for that year, when he knew he had taxable income of $5,588,249.70.

Pogue admitted in court documents that he also knowingly understated his taxable income on his 2004 and 2005 individual tax returns. Pogue admitted reporting only $3,111,715 in taxable income for 2004, when he knew his taxable income was $3,686,784.40, and reporting only $2,908,235 in taxable income for 2005, when he knew he actually had $3,030,684.70 in taxable income that year.

Pogue acknowledged that the total tax loss resulting from his additional, unreported income was $473,680.53.

Pogue faces up to 3 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations Division, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Williams.

link to article at North Texas E-News....

PermalinkPermalink 25 comments

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: Emma Berry [Visitor] Email · http://emmaberry.org
Well, I just cannot resist making a comment on this one. This brings up a topic that make me and many ordinary people on Main Street "boiling" mad. So often government contractors get caught and even convicted of breaking the law and then our elected officials continue to turn over our tax dollars to these convicted criminals! There are many outstanding examples, but none finer than Archer Daniels. Since this Wall Street corporation was convicted of price fixing in the mid 1990's, they have continued to receive billions in corporate welfare from our elected officials in Washington.

They should be a law against giving taxpayers' money to criminals.
PermalinkPermalink 02/25/10 @ 07:04
Comment from: Davis Standard [Visitor] Email
Make the guy pay a fine plus interest and be done with it. Don't spend anymore tax dollars by locking the guy up. Enough tax dollars have been given to him as is. I don't have sympathy for the IRS meaning that they shouldn't be able to collect their unpaid monies, plus interest and THEN put a financial burden on the taxpayer because they want to punich someone. Collect your money plus interest and leave the American people alone. Then, counties should punish the guy by blacklisting him from ANY county/city jobs moving forward. For a guy like that, losing his money (in the form of future contracts) are more important than serving 18 months in a lax prison. Agreed?
PermalinkPermalink 02/25/10 @ 10:06
Comment from: mckinneymom [Visitor] Email
Shamefully, Keith Self accepted $2500 from Paul Pogue for his re-election campaign, according to the 2008/2009 list of contributors that WAS on Keith Self's website. Curiously this list has been deleted. Only 2009/2010 remain. That does not sound like standing by the taxpayer to me.


The Observer comments:

A quick web search shows that Pogue also liked to donate to:

Ken Paxton
Ralph Hall
Greg Brewer

Bill
PermalinkPermalink 02/25/10 @ 14:06
Comment from: COLLIN COUNTY ATTORNEY [Visitor] Email
What? Keith "I am transparant" Self deleted Paul Pogue's name from his donor list? Why doesn't he want that name on the transparant list?

As for the sentencing - I'm okay with no jail time as long as others who stole the same amount of money get the same break. Just because it's white collar doesn't mean it's not stealin'.
PermalinkPermalink 02/25/10 @ 17:39
Comment from: Gini [Visitor] Email
This man would most certainly be welcomed to the OBAMA administration.
He would fit right in with the other tax cheats who are running our country.
But alas he is not part of that group so he will have to pay the price.
PermalinkPermalink 02/25/10 @ 22:38
Comment from: Friend of Pogue's [Visitor] Email
I've known Paul for many, many years. Aside from under-reporting his income, he is a huge philanthropitst. I don't know for sure but would guess that he gives away at least a third of what he makes. Huge giving to charities is a big flag for the IRS. I'm confident this along with a disgruntled former employee, is what alerted the IRS. There's no excuse for understating your income, however, there is an otherwise very good man behind this story.
PermalinkPermalink 02/26/10 @ 07:06
Comment from: Melba Parker [Visitor] Email
Ive known of Mr. Pogue for years, he is a Godly man and so is his family. The bible says ,you without sin cast the first stone,so where does that leave you?Please be careful aout judgeing others ,God will take care of that. God Bless I pray you find your forgiving side.
PermalinkPermalink 02/26/10 @ 10:54
Comment from: Collin County Citizen [Visitor] Email
Melba Parker:

I'm a sinner, and I'll throw the first stone! If you think you coming on this blog and typing that Pogue is a "Godly" man makes me give a rats a$$ about him - or you - you're sadly mistaken.

From what you and Friend of Pogue tell me along with the FACTS, this is what he does:

1) Apply for and recieve contracts paid with tax payer dollars - LOTS of taxpayer dollars;

2) Give some money to his church, which produses nut cases like you, and a few oter charities, along with some nutcase politicians (save Brewer);

3) Evade and lie on his taxes so that the needed funds to pay for Medicaid, unemployment, roads, national defense, etc. etc...;

4) Get caught, and send nutcases out to defend him;

5) Repeat steps 1 - 4 until death.

Yeah... Godly man indeed. Would you like to adorn him with a halo, or should I?
PermalinkPermalink 02/26/10 @ 11:37
Comment from: Davis Standard [Visitor] Email
Melba, he didn't do anything to me or any of us reading this site. I don't feel he wronged me, so I don't need, nor do I think anyone is in a position to have to "forgive" Paul. As I stated earlier, I have no sympathy for the IRS. He should have to pay his fine, plus interest and be done with it.

As far as looking at him as a honest businessman...what was that line President Bush gave about fooling me once shame on folling you...something like that.

You see where I'm coming from. It's not like Paul cheated his taxes once, or twice...so, I don't think the state of Texas, any county in Texas or any city in Texas should be allowed to do business with him.
PermalinkPermalink 02/26/10 @ 11:59
Comment from: David [Visitor] Email
@Davis Standard,
He plead guilty and will have to pay the taxes, interest, and penalties as well as fines and possibly some jail time. If he accepts the consequences, shouldn't he get a fresh start like everyone else? I think blacklisting the business is incredibly too harsh.
PermalinkPermalink 02/26/10 @ 12:26
Comment from: Melba Parker [Visitor] Email
By him pleaing guilty says he is willing to except his punishment so why do people want to add to this?Let the system work! God be with us!
PermalinkPermalink 02/26/10 @ 13:44
Comment from: Friend of Paul Pogue [Visitor] Email
I think its to be expected that men who have not attained in life what they are capable of, would judge Paul in this matter. Paul has achieved some rather amazing success in his life. He comes from very modest, humble beginnings. To truly get into the details of a matter like this takes a lot more than Monday morning assessments/judgments of Sunday's game. It doesn't take any genius to do that. Hopefully they will have him pay his back taxes and whatever penalties and interest that is due.
PermalinkPermalink 02/26/10 @ 14:14
Comment from: Tom Frank [Visitor] Email
Keith Self accepted a generous contribution from someone who was later found to be a tax cheat. We can't be too hard on Self, especially if he gave the money back when it became widely known that Pogue money was tainted.
Self also accepted contributions from Jill Willis while her husband was a sitting judge which is a violation of the campaign ethics. Judge Self and Judge Willis should know better.
Judge Self also accepted contributions from Keith Gore. Gore is running for judge and should know better. Ditto Self.
PermalinkPermalink 02/26/10 @ 14:29
Comment from: Friend of Paul Pogue [Visitor] Email
To my knowledge and according to his website, he doesn't do business with the U.S. Government. It is amazing how many people will get on these forums, express their ignorance and pipe off about things they knowg nothing about.
PermalinkPermalink 02/26/10 @ 15:35
Comment from: mckinneymom [Visitor] Email · http://wit
I do not believe that Keith Self returned the contribution to Mr. Pogue. Returning the contribution would be the right thing to do but Mr. Self does not admit mistakes readily.
On the Pogue construction website it plainly says that they build many city, state and county buildings.
So let's be clear--Keith Self, Mr. Transparancy accepted contributions from a county vendor who was convicted of tax evasion. And he stands with the taxpayer? Really?
PermalinkPermalink 02/26/10 @ 17:34
Comment from: Eric Barna [Visitor] Email
"To my knowledge and according to his website, he doesn't do business with the U.S. Government"

Wow, I can stop worrying. I feel much better now.

But... maybe the state, county and municipalities can follow the Feds lead...

"This morning the President announced a Presidential Memorandum putting a common sense restriction in place to put government on the side of the taxpayer: blocking contractors who are delinquent on their taxes from receiving new government contracts. He also called on Congress to go further and give the government the tools necessary to ensure that the public’s tax dollars are not used to boost the profits of companies who refuse to pay their taxes. Read the White House fact sheet and memorandum itself for all the details"

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/01/20/blocking-government-contracts-tax-cheats

President Obama, stop casting those stones!
PermalinkPermalink 02/26/10 @ 19:29
Comment from: Jim Higgins [Visitor] Email
Deleted at the request of the author.

Bill


PermalinkPermalink 02/27/10 @ 00:06
Comment from: Friend of Paul Pogue [Visitor] Email
According to my calculations, Paul paid in $3.5 million in taxes during this time. Now it makes a lot of sense for the IRS to bring down a guy like this, doesn't it? Let's see. He paid them almost $3.5 million of which, if they bring him down and make him do time for it, he WON'T be giving to them. He will be a burden ON the taxpayers. Pure logic can easily show you how insane this is. I'm not saying that anyone should be able to not pay their taxes. I'm saying, let him pay what he owes and be done with it. Did ANYONE ever think of this?
PermalinkPermalink 02/27/10 @ 14:23
Comment from: Friend of Paul Pogue [Visitor] Email
One other thing. How many hundreds of thousands of dollars did the gov't spend in uncovering all of this? This is a typical example of the moronic behavior that has landed the U.S. gov't in trillions of dollars in debt. Then you have mindless people (who will never have the guts to go after the success Paul has) who are simply delighted to see a guy like this fall when the gov't has sucked them into their brainless antics. Does anyone THINK anymore? Can anyone add all of this up? Come on people. Surely you're more intelligent than that.

Jim, I don't think the gov't can add (up their loses) as good as Paul's obviously incompetent accountant.



The Observer comments:

Should we then prosecute crimes based profit/loss criteria? Is not the violation of the law sufficient reason for prosecution?

I understand you standing by your friend. However if he is as he admits to being guilty, then how is the government wrong for enforcing the law?

Bill
PermalinkPermalink 02/27/10 @ 14:33
Comment from: Eric Barna [Visitor] Email
Hmmm... based on the comments. I am approaching the point whereas I can stop paying taxes... I've certainly paid enough. Heck there was one time I was in a partnership back in the 90s whereas I filed over 30 tax returns every year (federal plus every state the partnership held an office).

I guess I should expect to see a civil lawsuit against Mr. Pogue's CPA since it was all his fault?

Mr. Pogue certainly is a good man to admit guilt, pay 100s of thousands in back taxes, interest and penalties and potential serve time in federal prison in order to save his family, friends and business.

Just one thing... wasn't this indictment only concerning Mr. Pogue? I don't see how Pogue Construction was a part of the lawsuit. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

And Mr. Pogue's friend... he won't be a burden. His back taxes, penalties and interest will certainly pay the 40-50K a year it takes to incarcerate him.

It would have been different if his back taxes were, say, 10K and with interest and penalties amounted say 20K and he was served a 3 year sentence.

PermalinkPermalink 02/27/10 @ 18:19
Comment from: Friend of Paul Pogue [Visitor] Email

The government has not already spent his back taxes, but for every dollar that he paid, they borrowed twice that amount and have already spent it.
PermalinkPermalink 02/28/10 @ 06:35
Comment from: Visitor [Visitor] Email
He is a good man and law abiding citizen and I believe he will be found innocent. I have never heard a bad thing about this man from anyone. In fact I believe he received citizen of the year last year from the county that he lives in. Everybody love Paul and alot of people would like to be him. You have heard the term a friend that sticks closer than a brother. That would be Paul. Unless you know Paul please do cast judgment. He has done to many good things for to many people to be ridiculed.
PermalinkPermalink 02/28/10 @ 21:58
Comment from: Collin County Citizen [Visitor] Email
Friend of Pogue,

Give it up. You've lost this debate. You're not going to convince anyone here that:

1) We shouldn't lock up tax evaders because it costs money, which adds to the revenue losses already caused by the evader;

2) Since Paul has worked so hard and taken so many risks, we should admire him as an America hero, and ignore his illegal transgressions;

3) Because the government is in such debt, we should excuse the evasions of Mr. Pogue because his evasions amounts to only a fraction of the national debt; and

4) We should change the century-old tradition of holding the tax payer personally accountable for cheating (not the accountant), because Mr. Pogue was just fooled by his bad accountant.

You've lost this argument. You can be a good friend and support Mr. Pogue and his family in this time of need, but getting on blogs and trying to explain away his crimes doesn't help him.

Also, Tom Frank, it isn't unethical or illegal for judges to donate to particular campaigns. The State Commission on Judicial Conduct has ruled that a judge cannot expressly endorse a candidate or use his/her official title in the support of a candidate. However, judges are, first and foremost, American citizens, and that means that they can donate to whatever political cause they choose. They privately do it because that it, in many instances, their only means of political participation.

What if a judge were to donate $100 to the "Stop Child Abuse PAC?" Would you find that unethical. I don't like some of the candidates who have given or taken money, but judge because they wear a robe 8-5 (or from 10-2 in Collin County), doesn't mean they can't participate in the political process just like everyone else.
PermalinkPermalink 03/01/10 @ 02:07
Comment from: Friend of Paul Pogue [Visitor] Email
I will give it up here. You are right. Rational, objective thinking would have to rule here. It does not.
You've proved that.
PermalinkPermalink 03/01/10 @ 08:32
Comment from: bill [Member] Email
I am closing comments. All that can be said ( and much more) has already been.

Bill
PermalinkPermalink 03/01/10 @ 09:15

Comments are closed for this post.

The Collin County Observer

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