Describing the American Far-Right Criminal Anti-Tax Movement

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

Far-right extremist tax protesters are involved in a wide array of financial crimes in the United States, including tax fraud, bank fraud, and false liens. This study uses data from the Extremist Financial Crime Database (EFCDB) to identify financial crimes committed by far-right tax protestors from 1990-2010. Characteristics of financial schemes and suspects are described in order better understand their behaviors, techniques, belief systems, and motives. Whereas the typical tax cheat is driven by greed, extremist tax protestors believe they have a moral and legal duty to oppose paying taxes. Both extremist offenders and their non-extremist collaborators are included. Developing knowledge of financial crime involving extremist tax protesters will improve policies and strategies for governance and intervention.

Author

• Brandon A. Sullivan, Michigan State University