Knives against the IRS
This is for sure a case of the end not justifying the means. Marcellus Arellano, 68 claims that the IRS owes him $12,000. He obviously wants the money back. But the means he chose to make his ‘claim’ is wrong, and that’s putting it mildly.
Last Friday, Arellano brought 3 knives with him, measuring 3 ½ inches, 5 inches and 8 inches, into a federal building in Portland that housed the IRS office with the intention of scaring the IRS personnel into giving him his money back. The incident took place at the Edith Green-Wendall Wyatt Federal Building where a large number of IRS employees are based. His covert act was detected before he actually got into the IRS office when at the lobby, a security screener discovered the knives on him.
Arellano never really bothered to conceal them. One knife was tucked under his belt at the back while the other two was found in his bag. Likewise when confronted about his action, Arellano was not coy or evasive about his motives.
When questioned by Federal Protective Service agent Micah Coring, he explained what he was about to do with surprising frankness. He had bought the knives at a Rite Aid on Burnside Street and brought them with the purpose of frightening the IRS employees so that they would give him his money back.
According to an affidavit by Coring, Arellano was even forthright enough to put all he said down in writing explaining his motives. Showing no remorse for his actions, Arellano explained that he feels so strongly about getting his money back that he would use any means possible to achieve that objective and continue doing so if need be. Gauging by the methods he used, it was certainly ‘by hook or crook’.
The FPS agent Coring arrested Arellano and later discovered that he had a previous felony record against him – a property theft and a sex-related crime. In his affidavit, Coring put on record that Arellano had brought the knives into the building with the intention of assaulting or intimidating a federal employee.
US Magistrate court judge Donald Ashmanskas gave the order for Arellano to remain in prison while awaiting his trial.
For all Arellano’s craziness and quirkiness, one thing you can say about him – at least he’s honest.
Darrin T. Mish is a veteran, nationally recognized tax attorney who has focused on providing IRS help to taxpayers for over a decade. He regularly travels the country training other attorneys, CPAs and enrolled agents on how to handle their toughest cases with the IRS. He is highly ranked among the top attorneys in the country, with an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell and a perfect 10 on Avvo.com. Martindale-Hubbell has also honored him with a listing in their Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. He is a member of the American Society of IRS Problem Solvers and the Tax Freedom Institute. With clients on every continent but Antarctica, he has what it takes to solve your IRS problems no matter where you live in the world. If you would like more information about his practice and how he can help you, please call his office at (813) 229-7100 or toll free at 1-888-GET-MISH.
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