GRAND RAPIDS (WHTC-AM/FM) — Holland resident Jeffrey James Palmer, an attorney and former Republican candidate for Ottawa County Commission, has been charged with making a false statement on a federal income tax return and wire fraud.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced the charges Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019.
Palmer has agreed to waive indictment by the grand jury and plead guilty to the charges, according to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney Office in Grand Rapids. He agreed to pay the Internal Revenue Service additional tax due and owing for tax years 2012 through 2016 (approximately $55,511, before interest and penalties) and restitution to his victims, approximately $339,520.
Palmer admitted in a written plea filed on Feb. 21, that he “embezzled and converted to his own use approximately $339,520 of client trust funds while licensed and practicing as an attorney,” according to the federal press release.
Palmer admitted to withdrawing approximately $274,856 from one client trust account and about $64,664 in funds from a second client trust account, between 2012 and 2016, without disclosing his actions to those clients.
Authorities says Palmer admitted to failing to report the embezzled money as income on his federal income tax returns, including $82,000 on his tax papers filed in January 2017.
He faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the embezzlement charges, and up to three years in prison for the federal tax violation, with the possibility of suspension or revocation of his Michigan law license.
The IRS Criminal Investigation division pursued the case, which is now being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher M. O’Connor.
His arraignment and plea date and time have not been scheduled. Palmer ran as a Republican for the District 3 Ottawa County Commission seat, losing in the primary to then-incumbent Don Disselkoen.
