Financial adviser appears on tax-related charges

Published 4:08 pm Thursday, May 5, 2016

An Albert Lea man charged with a dozen tax-related felonies made his first court appearance Thursday afternoon.

Troy Irvine, 41, faces six counts of attempting to evade the state’s tax laws and six counts of filing false or fraudulent income tax returns following an investigation by the Minnesota Department of Revenue.

Irvine is being represented by Edward Magarian of Minneapolis-based law firm Dorsey & Whitney LLP.

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Freeborn County Assistant Attorney David Walker said Freeborn County District Court Judge Ross Leuning gave Irvine time to file motions or seek a resolution to the case. Leuning released Irvine on his own recognizance.

The criminal complaint filed in Freeborn County District Court in February alleges Irvine willfully attempted to evade income tax laws for tax years 2009 through 2014. During those years, he allegedly understated more than $112,000 in wages, overstated more than $34,000 in withholding amounts and falsely omitted over $100,000 in pension income, according to the Department of Revenue.

The state alleges that because of the fraudulent Minnesota tax returns filed during the six-year period, Irvine now owes almost $52,000 in taxes, penalties and interest.

Irvine worked as a financial adviser for Edward Jones during the years referenced in the court complaint. He worked for Alliance Benefit Group at the time the charges were filed and has been placed on a leave of absence, pending the results of the investigation.

Irvine’s lawyer previously stated the errors were simply mistakes and not intentional efforts to mislead the state.

Each charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine or both.

About Sam Wilmes

Sam Wilmes covers crime, courts and government for the Albert Lea Tribune.

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