Jury Convicts Minnesota Chiropractor Of Tax Evasion

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A jury convicted a Minnesota chiropractor of tax evasion Friday for failing to file tax returns for a decade and using a purported religious organization to hide his income and pay expenses.

Donald Gibson was convicted of five counts of tax evasion and one count of presenting a fake financial instrument to the U.S. Department of Treasury, according to U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger.

Evidence presented at the trial showed Gibson did not file individual income tax returns from 2004 to 2014. He attempted to mask his income in this period by diverting money to a warehouse bank called MYICIS. Gibson cashed over $800,000 in business checks during this time and submitted fake money orders and financial instruments to the Internal Revenue Service.

Gibson also formed a religious organization, Sovereign Christian Mission, to further hide his income and pay personal expenses.

While the IRS audited Gibson's tax returns, evidence shows he presented a fake financial instrument supposedly worth $300 million, claiming it covered the taxes he was liable for.

Gibson faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison for the false financial instrument charge and five years in prison for each count of tax evasion. He could also face supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties.

Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.