Fort Collins businessman Donald Smith charged with tax evasion

DENVER – Fort Collins businessman Donald D. Smith has been charged with three counts of failing to file income tax returns by the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Smith, 66, owner and operator of Mountain West Children’s Academy LLC, failed to file income tax returns for income earned in 2008, 2009 and 2010, according to the allegations released Monday.

The allegations were filed April 8 but remained sealed until his first appearance before the court April 21. The case is pending.

SPONSORED CONTENT

How dispatchable resources enable the clean energy transition

Platte River must prepare for the retirement of 431 megawatts (MW) of dispatchable, coal-fired generation by the end of the decade and address more frequent extreme weather events that can bring dark calms (periods when there is no sun or wind).

According to the Internal Revenue Service, Smith received gross income of approximately $183,343 in 2008, $122,068 in 2009 and $154,900 in 2010, but “willfully failed to file income tax returns.”

Each of the three charges carry a penalty of not more than 1 year in federal prison, and a fine of up to $100,000.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Davies.

The charges were filed using what is called an Information, where the defendant waives the Constitutional right to be indicted by a federal grand jury.

An attempt to reach Smith at the school was not successful. The phone number has been disconnected. Jeff Dorschner, a spokesman for the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Colorado, said he believes Smith has closed the business.