An Atlanta physician who had not paid taxes in 17 years, claiming to be a “private sovereign citizen,” was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison on tax evasion charges, authorities said Wednesday.
Dr. Debra Johnson-Jordan, 58, of Winder, practiced medicine in East Point and claimed for seven years that she was a sovereign citizen and not subject to federal income tax laws.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, sovereign citizens are anti-government extremists who believe that even though they physically reside on American soil, they are separate or “sovereign” from the United States. As a result, they believe they don’t have to answer to any government authority, including courts, taxing entities, motor vehicle departments or law enforcement.
Johnson-Jordan pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion after an IRS investigation uncovered that she failed to file income tax returns and pay federal income taxes from at least 1997 to 2014, according to a new release from Bob Page, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. She maintained she was exempt from paying federal income taxes, despite earning more than $1.5 million. Because of her sovereign citizenship status, she asserted she was not subject to federal income tax laws.
“The law is clear on the issue of taxable income and who is required to file and pay taxes: there is no gray area on the subject,” said IRS investigator Veronica Hyman-Pillot.
Johnson-Jordan ignored numerous IRS notices which warned of criminal penalties if she failed to comply with tax laws. Despite these warnings, she sent correspondence to her employer, the IRS and the U.S. Attorney’s office raising frivolous arguments and continued to challenge her tax liability until she was indicted in August 2015, U.S. Attorney John Horn said.
“Hard-working taxpayers should not have to shoulder the burden for people, like Dr. Johnson-Jordan, who fail to pay their taxes because of spurious claims that they’re above the law,” said Horn. “This case shows that there are serious consequences for those who intentionally avoid their tax obligations.”
In addition to serving time in federal prison, Johnson-Jordan must pay the IRS $464,432.00 in back taxes. She must also serve three years of supervised release, pay a $100 special assessment and complete 60 hours of community service.
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