December 16, 2016

A Greensboro, North Carolina couple, who operated an online sales business, was sentenced to prison for tax fraud and bank fraud charges, announced the Justice Department’s Tax Division. Daniel Balson, 51, and Renee Balson, 53, were sentenced to serve 27 months and 16 months in prison, respectively, by U.S. District Court Judge Catherine C. Eagles of the Middle District of North Carolina. According to court documents, Daniel Balson owned and operated Southern Sales Online (SSO), an online retail business that sold a variety of merchandise through eBay and Amazon, including scrapbooking and art materials, books, inspirational DVDs, pet supplies and tools. Daniel Balson admitted selling stolen merchandise through SSO. Although SSO earned over $1 million in gross receipts during tax years 2005 through 2011, the Balsons failed to report the operation of SSO and its gross receipts on their individual income tax returns. The Balsons also failed to report the income from SSO on a bank application for a mortgage loan modification in 2011. DOJ

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