All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
(Dubois, WY) – Dubois business owner Scott Bushnell pled “guilty” to the charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States and filing a false return at his initial appearance hearing yesterday, July 10, held before the Honorable Judge Scott W. Skavdahl.
(The initial appearance hearing was originally set for July 5, but was moved to July 10.)
A sentencing hearing has now been set for October 2.
Scott and his wife Tammy (who was also charged) are the co-owners of Trails End Guns and Trails End Motel, and they both face these charges after reportedly “executing a scheme to defraud the United States” through “routine underreporting of gross income through the submission of false and fraudulent business records and reported income to the (their) accountant.”
Federal Court documents state that in “furtherance of the conspiracy,” the Bushnells did the following:
- The routine destruction of business documents that would reveal true cash receipts
- The routine purchase of money orders with cash obtained from business operations (to hide reportable income)
- The bartering of goods and services
- The submission of fraudulent and false business records/reports to their accountant
Those Court documents go on to state that on their 2021 Income Tax return, the Bushnells reported a “total income of $288,567,” when in fact they “received at least $559,026.”
Scott was released at yesterday’s hearing, as per conditions made in the bond agreement, and the October 2 sentencing hearing was set.
As for Tammy, her sentencing hearing was originally scheduled for August 21, but that was reset for October 2 to coincide with Scott’s. She is also out on bond.
A conspiracy to defraud the United States charge holds a maximum sentence of 5 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, 3 years supervised release and $100 special assessment fee, with potential restitution to be determined by the Court.
A filing a false return charge holds a maximum if sentence of 3 years imprisonment, a $100,000 fine, 1 year of supervised release and a $100 special assessment fee, with potential restitution to be determined by the Court.
County 10 will provide updates as they become available, which can be viewed here, and you can also access updates for Tammy’s case here.