Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

MADISON, WIS. -- A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments yesterday. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

EDGERTON MAN CHARGED WITH TAX CRIMES

Jeffrey Grams, 43, Edgerton, Wis., is charged with 11 counts of failing to account for and pay over to the Internal Revenue Service payroll taxes withheld from the wages of employees of his businesses. The indictment alleges that on eight occasions from April 2008 through January 2010, he failed to file quarterly employment tax forms and made no payments to the IRS for the payroll taxes withheld from the employees of his business, Rock River Concrete, a corporation doing business in Edgerton.

The indictment also alleges that as the managing partner of Braton Property Group, a corporation doing business in Edgerton, Grams failed to file quarterly employment tax forms and made no payments for the withheld payroll taxes of Braton Property Group employees on three occasions from April to October 2008.

If convicted, Grams faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a $10,000 fine on each count. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by IRS Criminal Investigation. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie S. Pfluger.

ADAMS COUNTY MAN CHARGED WITH FILING FALSE INCOME TAX RETURNS & OBSTRUCTING IRS

Rennell D. West, 62, Friendship, Wis., is charged with two counts of filing false income tax returns. The indictment alleges that he underreported his business income on his 2007 and 2008 income tax returns filed with the Internal Revenue Service.

The indictment also charges him with obstructing the administration of the internal revenue laws by deleting QuickBooks files for Family Affair restaurant, which were responsive to an IRS summons, prior to providing them to the IRS agent conducting the civil audit.

If convicted, West faces a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison and a $100,000 fine on each count of filing a false income tax return, and three years in federal prison and a $5,000 fine on the obstruction charge. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by IRS Criminal Investigation. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith P. Duchemin.

MADISON MAN CHARGED WITH ADDITIONAL GUN CRIMES

James M. Kruger, 36, Madison, Wis., is charged in a superseding indictment with three counts of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. The indictment alleges that:

1) On June 7, 2013, he possessed a .22 caliber rifle and a 1,600 round can of mini-mag .22 caliber ammunition;

2) from August 14, 2013 to August 28, 2013, he possessed a .22 caliber rifle and multiple rounds of .22 caliber ammunition; and

3) on September 10, 2013, he possessed a .22 caliber/.410 gauge, double-barreled, over and under firearm, a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun, and a loaded 12 gauge shotgun.

Kruger was originally indicted by the grand jury on September 18, 2013, on one count of being a felon in possession of firearms on September 10, 2013.

If convicted, Kruger faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each count. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Grant, Iowa and Dane County Sheriffs’ Departments; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Cassville, Dodgeville, Fennimore, Platteville, and Madison Police Departments. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea.