By Nicole Walton
Marquette, MI – A downstate man has pleaded guilty in Marquette Federal Court to obstructing and impeding the U.S. Tax Code. James Deven Harris, 41, was convicted in 1994 of armed robbery and possession of a firearm during a felony in Washtenaw County. He was sentenced to 15 to 25 years in prison and sent to the Kinross Correctional Facility. In 2006 and 2007 Harris filed a false tax return, claiming he paid a prosecuting attorney connected with his case $6 million in interest and $6 million in original issue discount. When interviewed, Harris said he'd done it so the IRS would conduct an audit of the attorney's taxes.
Harris faces up to three years in prison and a year of supervised release. Sentencing is set for December 28.