RICHLANDS — A Richlands man who declared he is not subject to federal government rule, along with his wife who teaches at an Onslow County public school, has been charged with tax evasion.
Robert W. Brownfield, 48, and Mary Brownfield, 40, of Rand Street, had their first court appearance in Raleigh this week on charges they haven’t paid state income taxes in several years.
Robert Brownfield was charged last week by the N.C. Revenue Department’s Criminal Investigations Division with four counts of willful attempt to evade taxes, four counts of uttering forged instruments and one count of willful failure to file income tax returns.
Mary Brownfield was charged with two counts of willful attempt to evade taxes and three counts of willful failure to file income tax returns.
An investigation by Revenue Special Agent Erik Steuck revealed the Brownfields allegedly filed fraudulent N.C. Individual Income Tax Returns from 2004-07 by claiming they had no taxable income when they did. Robert Brownfield is also accused of forging state tax Form 1099 - Miscellaneous Income Statements.
Mary Brownfield is accused of failing to file N.C. Individual Income Tax Return for 2008, 2009 and 2010. She was employed by the Onslow County Public Schools during that time, according to a press release from the Revenue Department. She is a fourth grade teacher at Richlands Elementary School and has been employed as a teacher by Onslow County Schools for 18 years, according to the school’s website.
Robert Brownfield filed an affidavit with the Onslow County Register of Deeds in 2010 stating he was not a citizen of the United States, but a citizen of the North Carolina Republic. That organization believes the state was taken from the people by the U.S. military during Reconstruction. The group works to restore North Carolina’s government to pre-1868 status, according to its website.
As part of the affidavit process to declare his citizenship, Brownfield stated he was a male of white heritage and withdrew his voter registration. He also repudiated his Social Security number, birth certificate, marriage license and driver’s license.
When the Brownfields were arrested March 27, an Onslow County magistrate gave Robert Brownfield an $81,500 bond. Mary Brownfield was given a $24,500 bond. They appeared in Wake County District Court on Monday. Their next trial date has not been set.
The Revenue Department has a Tax Fraud Hotline at 1-800-232-4939. Authorities encourage anyone to call if they suspect someone they know is defrauding the state. Tipsters are not required to identify themselves.
You can reach Lindell Kay at 910-219-8455 or lindell.kay@jdnews.com.