Attorney Jeff Dickstein successfully represented former IRS enforcement agent Joe Bannister in court after Bannister was arrested and charged for criminal tax fraud and conspiracy. Bannister, who had previously quit his job at the IRS and joined what is known as the "tax honesty" movement, contends that the income tax is illegal and fraudulent. This is a conclusion he reached after years of research, which was initiated after he heard a radio interview with Constitutionalist Devvy Kidd. Bannister was featured in Aaron Russo's blockbuster documentary film AMERICA - FREEDOM TO FASCISM .
Dickstein was questioned at a conference in March 2008 in Newport Beach, CA:
Q. "You represented Joe Bannister who was aquitted of charges. If the average American were to watch Freedom to Fascism and they decide they don't want to file their income tax, what would you say to that?
What would you recommend such a person do?
Dickstein: "I would say that you have to realize that the positions presented in the film are not accepted by the United States government; that if you don't file you risk going to jail, and you might even expect that, and also the amount of tax that you might otherwise end up owing will probably be quadrupled if not more.
"If you're young, you have a family, before you take that position you ought to make sure you have plenty of money set asdie so you can take care of your wife and kids, and be prepared to lose everything you have and be broke for a really long time. Also don't forget to save a substancial amount of money to pay for your attorneys fees."
Q. That doesnt sound like a very inviting prospect does it?
Dickstein: "Well in todays society with the political situation the way it is , it's extremely dangerous to be correct when the government is wrong. That's a quote from Voltaire, and I think it's extremely true today.
Sherry Peel Jackson, a former IRS agent from Georgia who also contends the income tax is illegal., was charged and convicted of non-filing and is currently in federal prison serving a four year sentence.
Related:
- Former IRS CID Agent Joseph R Banister and Congressman Ron Paul discuss the illegality of the income tax on a 2004 edition of CNBC's Special Report .
- Jurors who acquitted Bannister speak about the case afterwards .
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