On Friday, a Circleville, Ohio man was convicted by a United States District Court jury on 17 tax-related charges. The verdict comes at the conclusion of a two-week trial. 54-year-old John Anderson Rankin was indicted by a federal grand jury in July of 2015. Court documents and court testimony show that Rankin operated several Circleville-based businesses, including Connectivity Systems Inc. and Rankin Enterprises LLC.
The latter was a shell corporation, which included the following businesses.
- Circleville Movie House
- Screen Room
- J.R. Hooks Café
- Tootles Pumpkin Inn
The defendant also owned the Tuscan Table, which is a downtown Italian restaurant. Between June of 2008 and April of 2011, Rankin failed to account for and pay federal income and FICA taxes while conducting business as Rankin Enterprises and Tuscan Table. For the 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 income tax years, Rankin filed false Amended Individual Income Tax Returns.
The defendant claimed a corrected adjusted gross income of negative $1.7 million. In reality, his correct adjusted gross income was more than $8.9 million. In 2010, Rankin filed a false income tax return using similar tactics. He reported an adjusted gross income of roughly $27,000, while his actual gross income was approximately $1.6 million.
The defendant also filed false Corporation Income Tax Returns for Connectivity Systems Incorporated for the 2008, 2009 and 2010 tax years. The forms claimed a false accelerated Research and Development Credit for roughly $1.7 million.
Finally, between January 2005 and July 2015, Rankin made false and misleading statements to IRS agents, while also concealing information from said agents. Again, John Anderson Rankin has been found guilty and will soon be sentenced for his crimes.