Representative Joe E. Armstrong was convicted of filing a false tax return.
The 59-year-old U.S. Representative was convicted after a four-day long trial in U.S. District Court Monday.
According to evidence presented at the trial Armstrong filed his federal income tax returns for the year 2008 and failed to disclose in those returns that he engaged in an investment activity from which he derived over $300,000 in income.
Even though Armstrong knew that he was required by law to disclose the income of this investment activity, he did not do so.
Sentencing was set for Nov. 30 at 10 a.m. in U.S. District Court in Knoxville, Tenn.
Armstrong faces a possible sentence of up three years in prison, a term of supervised release of not more than one year, a fine of up to $250,000, a special assessment of $100, and restitution.
The IRS-Criminal Investigation Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation were involved in the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles E. Atchley, Jr. and Frank M. Dale, Jr. represented the United States.
Tennessee Republican Party Executive Director, Brent Leatherwood, released the following statement on the conviction:
"Today's conviction of Representative Armstrong continues the unfortunate legacy of Tennessee Democrats serving in the jailhouse rather than the State House. Armstrong now joins the other infamous members of the Tennessee Democrat hall of shame like Ray Blanton and John Ford. Voters want to have confidence in their elected officials and the actions of Armstrong—and liberals like Knox County Democratic nominee Gloria Johnson who give their unflinching support to him—have shaken that sacred trust.”
