U.S. Government Contractor In Iraq Pleads Guilty
To Tax Fraud In $618,186 Kickback Scheme

 

Memphis, TN – Darrin Albert Searle, 44, of Loudon, TN, pleaded guilty yesterday to a one-count criminal information charging him with filing a false tax return, announced U.S. Attorney Edward L. Stanton and Christopher A. Henry, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge.

According to the facts revealed in the information and during his court appearance today, while working as a government contractor in Iraq in 2007, Searle failed to disclose $618,186 of income he received through kickbacks. Searle is required to file amended returns and pay all relevant taxes, interest, and penalties.

“Stealing from the government is always unacceptable conduct for any citizen, but most especially those who enjoy positions of trust as a government employee or contractor,” said U.S. Attorney Stanton. “Yesterday’s guilty plea underscores our office’s commitment to aggressively pursue those who flagrantly disregard and fail to live up to the same federal tax obligations shared by all citizens.”

“This guilty plea is an important victory for America’s taxpayers who file accurate, honest and timely tax returns,” said Special Agent in Charge Henry. “This investigation serves to remind us that there is no such thing as free money and there are no awards or incentives for creativity when it comes to crime.”

Searle will be sentenced on May 29, 2014, at 9:30 a.m., by U.S. District Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. This case was investigated by the Special Investigator General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR), the Department of the Army’s Criminal Investigative Division, and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred Godwin represented the government.