MAN CHARGED WITH FILING FALSE ELECTRONIC TAX RETURNS

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. and Comptroller of the Treasury William Donald Schaefer announced today that Mark Givens, 36, whose last known address is 2009 Annapolis Road, Baltimore, has been charged in the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County with theft, attempted theft, providing false information to the Comptroller, and perjury, in connection with his filing of 55 Maryland State income tax returns for tax year 2002. It is alleged that he electronically filed the 55 returns using the State's ifile system and received approximately $5,087 in stolen refund monies and attempted to steal approximately $11,504.

All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted on each count, Givens could be sentenced to a total of 45 years, fined up to $6,000, and be ordered to pay restitution.

There is an outstanding arrest warrant for Givens, who is believed to be a permanent resident of Pennsylvania and was locally employed by Manpower, Inc., a temporary employment agency. Anyone with information as to his whereabouts should contact Cpl. Dan Waltemeyer of the Maryland State Police at the Office of the Attorney General at 410-576-6380.

The case was referred by the Comptroller's Office and investigated by the Maryland State Police and the Office of the Attorney General, Criminal Investigations Division.

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