United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger today announced the guilty pleas of FRANCIS SELLNER, 66, and EUGENE SELLNER, 63, for income tax evasion. EUGENE SELLNER was charged on December 9, 2015, and FRANCIS SELLNER was charged on December 10, 2015, by felony information, each with one count of tax evasion. Both defendants pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Ann D. Montgomery in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minn. A sentencing date has not yet been determined.
According to the defendants’ guilty pleas and documents filed in court, FRANCIS and EUGENE SELLNER are brothers and co-owners of a farm in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. From approximately 2011 through 2013, the Sellner Farm regularly sold corn and soybeans to a feed and grain company located in Morgan, Minnesota. During this time, the feed and grain company paid for the goods with checks written out to both defendants. Rather than depositing the checks, the defendants cashed the majority of the checks to avoid paying taxes on the income.
According to the defendants’ guilty pleas and documents filed in court, FRANCIS and EUGENE SELLNER filed false income tax returns for the tax years 2011, 2012 and 2013, failing to report income received from the feed and grain company. In total, the defendants failed to report more than $500,000 in income.
FRANCIS SELLNER and EUGENE SELLNER each face up to five years in prison.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.
Defendant Information:
FRANCIS SELLNER, 66
Sleepy Eye, Minn.
Convicted:
- Tax Evasion, 1 count
EUGENE SELLNER, 63
Sleepy Eye, Minn.
Convicted:
Tax Evasion, 1 count
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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600