United States v. James E. Smith

502 F.2d 1150

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• Decided: December 23, 1974
• Docket: 74-1257
• Status: Published

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Tried to a jury, James E. Smith was convicted on all counts of a three-count indictment charging him with attempting to evade or defeat his federal income tax for the years 1968, 1969, and 1970 in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7201. On appeal Smith asserts that there was insufficient evidence to support his convictions. Smith, who was proceeded against by the government under the net worth method, claims that the evidence failed to: (1) properly establish the opening net worth figure; (2) demonstrate that the government adequately investigated Smith’s possible sources of funds prior to 1968; (3) establish either a likely source of income or exclude all possible sources of nontaxable income; (4) properly allocate the increases in Smith’s net worth among the years set forth in the indictment; (5) establish that Smith willfully attempted to evade payment of his income tax for 1968.

Upon a careful examination of the briefs and the record, we conclude that the evidence amply supports the convictions under the net worth method. See Holland v. United States, 348 U.S. 121, 75 S.Ct. 127, 99 L.Ed. 150 (1954); United States v. Calderon, 348 U.S. 160, 75 S.Ct. 186, 99 L.Ed. 202 (1954); United States v. Newman, 468 F.2d 791 (5th Cir. 1972), cert. denied, 411 U.S. 905, 93 S.Ct. 1527, 36 L.Ed.2d 194 (1973); Mighell v. United States, 233 F.2d 731 (10th Cir.) cert. denied, 352 U.S. 832, 77 S.Ct. 47, 1 L.Ed.2d 52 (1956).

Accordingly, we dispense with oral argument and affirm the judgment of the district court.

Affirmed.