Living large on $62,526? No way, IRS says

In 2010, attorney Scott W. Atway bought a 2011 Land Rover for $99,250. He also began paying for an $800,000 renovation of his Powell home that would include an enclosed tennis court, basketball court, inground pool, six-car garage and an elevator.

Not bad for a guy whose tax return said he made $62,526 in 2010.

Good budgeting? No, just old-fashioned lying to the tax man on income tax returns from 2010 to 2013, federal prosecutors said.

Atway, 44, pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in Columbus to filing a false tax return. Actually, he didn’t even file taxes for 2013.

Besides his solo generallaw practice in Lewis Center, Atway operated several Verizon stores and had income from rental properties through his real-estate holding company, all of which “generated substantial income,” according to a statement of facts that Atway and his attorney Gregory S. Peterson signed.

The Land Rover wasn’t the only high-end vehicle Atway bought, according to the document.

In 2011, he purchased a 2009 Porsche 911 for $50,399, a 2008 Lexus IS250 for $24,250 and a 2011 BMW X6 for $71,250.

In 2012, he bought a 2011 Audi R8 for $142,750.

He didn’t finance or take out a loan on any of the cars. The income he reported to dealers was greater than what he told the Internal Revenue Service.

Depending on who is estimating, the fraud cost the IRS at least $250,000, the defense said, or between $550,000 to $1.5 million, according to the government.

How much income Atway made last year has not yet been made part of the public record.

He faces anywhere from probation to a maximum of three years in prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

Atway admitted providing incomplete or falsified documents to the person who prepared his taxes. When the preparer asked for more information to justify his lifestye, Atway gave her more fake documents he concocted.

It was unknown what affect the guilty plea and sentence would have on Atway’s law license. As of Thursday the license was active, according to the Ohio Bar Association.