Derek Chauvin And His Wife Filed Fraudulent Tax Returns: Charges

OAKDALE, MN — Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, already facing charges in the death of George Floyd, was charged Wednesday with nine counts of felony tax fraud. Kellie May Chauvin, his wife, faces the same charges.

The charges were filed in Washington County. Their home is in Oakdale.

The charges come after an investigation by the Minnesota Department of Revenue and Oakdale Police Department.

"When you fail to fulfill the basic obligation to file and pay taxes, you are taking money from the pockets of citizens of Minnesota," Washington County Attorney Pete Orput said in a news release.

"Our office has and will continue to file these charges when presented. Whether you are a prosecutor or police officer, or you are doctor or a realtor, no one is above the law."

According to the criminal complaints, state revenue investigators initiated a review into the Chauvins in June 2020 for failure to timely file Minnesota individual income tax returns from 2016 to 2019 and fraudulently filing tax returns from 2014 to 2019.

The complaints claim that the Chauvins knew of their obligation to file state income tax returns due to their filings in previous years and from multiple correspondences sent in 2019 by the department regarding their missing 2016 individual income tax return.

The complaints also state that the Chauvins, both employed and "domiciled" in Minnesota, failed to file income tax returns and pay state income taxes, underreported and underpaid taxes on income generated from various employments each year, and failed to pay proper sales tax on a vehicle purchased in Minnesota.

"The vast majority of taxpayers voluntarily comply with Minnesota tax laws," Department of Revenue Commissioner Cynthia Bauerly said.

"However, the department will work with our partners in law enforcement to help ensure that Minnesota’s tax laws are administered fairly and everyone pays the right amount, no more no less."