Steven Dunn, of Bayfield, Wisconsin, is facing charges after he allegedly stole from his employer and filed fraudulent tax returns. Dunn worked as the maintenance supervisor for the Bayfield School District. Dunn was charged with two counts of theft, one count of misdemeanor theft, and three counts of knowingly make false statement in application for a certificate of title.
According to the criminal complaint, Dunn used the school district’s credit card to make personal purchases, mainly diesel fuel for his personal vehicle and fishing boat, a transfer tank, and a winch.
Also, from 2014 to 2017, Dunn underreported his taxable income by failing to report all his income from the school and his Lake Superior fishing charter business. Additionally, Dunn inflated expenses from his business to reduce his taxable income. In total, he underreported over $99,000, evading $6,986 in taxes.
Dunn also evaded sales tax on the purchase of several vehicles including a $100,000 sport yacht, which he claimed he bought for $10,000. By claiming a purchase price that was $90,000 less than the actual price, Dunn evaded $4,950 in sales tax. Dunn also reported lower purchase prices on two pickup trucks, evading an additional $1,144.
The other tax charges stem from Steven Dunn’s fishing charter business. Its website claimed sales tax was included in the price of the charter, but Dunn never remitted the sales tax to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.
Charges were filed last month by the Bayfield County District Attorney’s Office after an investigation by the City of Bayfield Police Department and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue’s Office of Criminal Investigation. If convicted of all charges, Dunn could face up to 54 years in prison, $100,000 in fines, or both.
