Attorney General's News Release
February 17, 2005
St. Louis man pleads guilty to charges he stole tax credits from state of Missouri; will repay $35,000 to the state
St. Louis, Mo. — Gregory S. Marshall, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty today to charges that he used false documents to fraudulently receive $35,000 in tax credits from the state of Missouri. Marshall (DOB - 7/25/59) is the fifth person in the past year to plead guilty to felony charges in an ongoing investigation into fraud against the state Rebuilding Communities Tax Credit Program.
Last year, a St. Louis City grand jury indicted Marshall on two counts of stealing by deceit, at the request of Attorney General Jay Nixon and Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce. Marshall today admitted he presented bogus checks and invoices as proof that his business, Innovative Computers, spent more than $408,000 in equipment expenditures in order to claim the tax credit certificates.
Marshall's sentencing has been deferred, pending his full cooperation with the state's ongoing investigation. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Marshall will repay $35,000 to the state, which is the amount he received from the fraud. He also could face up to seven years in prison at sentencing.
The tax credits were issued through the Missouri Department of Economic Development's Rebuilding Communities Tax Credit Program. The program provides tax credits of up to 40 percent of expenditures by new businesses operating in economically distressed areas or by established businesses moving into economically distressed areas.
Last June, Maryland residents Willie Adams and Maxine Allen each pleaded guilty to one felony count of stealing by deceit, in connection with defrauding the tax credit program. Last February, St. Louis residents James Holtrop and his wife Jill C. Meyerhardt pleaded guilty to two counts of stealing by deceit brought by Nixon and Joyce. Those four defendants have not yet been sentenced but have agreed to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).
All media inquiries should be directed to the Press Secretary.
E-mail Phone: 573-751-8844 Fax: 573-751-5818