From the Pensacola News Journal:
Jury deliberations took about three hours.
A federal jury has convicted Kent Hovind and his wife, Jo, of tax fraud.
Hovind faces a maximum of 288 years in prison. His wife faces up to 225 years. Her charges include aiding and abetting her husband with 44 counts of evading bank-reporting requirements.
In closing arguments this morning, Alan Richey, Kent Hovind’s defense attorney, said the Pensacola evangelist was never notified by the IRS that he was violating a specific law by not withholding and paying employment taxes on workers at the Dinosaur Adventure Land and Creative [sic]Science Evangelism, both of which he founded and operates.
Hovind also believes that as workers of God, he and all employees of the theme park and his ministry are exempt from paying taxes.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Heldmyer said the case was not about religion but about paying taxes.
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From 2000 to 2003, more than $1.1 million was taken from the Creation Science Evangelism accounts in the form of checks made out to “cash,” most of which were signed by Jo Hovind.
Most of the checks were made out for $9,500. The Internal Revenue Service alleges that this was a way for the Hovinds to avoid a bank-filed currency transaction report, which is mandatory for cash transactions of $10,000 or more.
On the day the IRS searched the Hovind home, Kent Hovind withdrew $70,000 from the Creation Science Evangelism account. Half in a check; the other in cash.
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Does anyone know the status of Kent Hovind if he is getting out of jail?