Evening star., 1950-04-04
Former Sheriff
Pleads Guilty
To Tax Evasion
Prosecutor Soys He
Admitted GombIers
Cove Him $4,000
Bs S,ott cerrsspo,den' Of The Star


BALTIMORE. April 4.-Former
Sheriff r. Earle Sheriff of Prince
Georges County today pleaded
guilty to income tax evasion and
the Government said he has ad-
mitted getting s22. 900 in pro-
lection money" from Washington
area gamblers.
Assistant United States Attor-
ney Norman P. Ramsey told Fed
eral Court that Sheriff admitted
10 agents of the Bureau OF Internal
Revenue that he took the money
while he was sheriff.
He was charged with income
tax evasions from l943 to ls4s.
the years he was In Office.
Mr.. Ramsey said Sheriff, who il
SIS. told of getting the protection
money from gamblers during all
four years as sheriff and estimated
the payments were about evenly
divided over the four years.
itC PiocCSotoI Sdtu liS COutu
not give the names of any of those
who had paid the protection
money. Sheriff. he said. reported
receiving 1t in unmarked an
velopes and he didn't know who
sent it.
Paid by Gambling Interests"
Mr.. Ramsey said the payofYs
were by gambling interests" in
volved in bookmaking and the
numbers racket as we'll as other
gambling activities.
He told Judge w. Calvin Ches-
nut that Sheriff had been COM
pletely candid" with Government
agents in checking into his affairs.
In entering the plea Of guilty
to evading approximately Sl0.500
in Federal income taxes. Sheriff
withdrew his previous plea OF not
guilty.
Maximum penalties for income
tax evasion are five years i'm
prisonment and $4,000 fine. The
total maximum for Sheriff, on the
four counts. would be 20 years and
$40, 900.
After the request OF his attor-
ney. Robert w. Mccullough, and
with agreement by the Govern
ment, Judge Chesnut authorized
pre-sentence Investigation OF
Sheriff's conduct and record by .
probation officer. The judge or
dered this report be submitted to
him next Tuesday. The defend
ant continued at liberty In 81 900
bail.
$4,000 Found In Deposit Box.
Mr.. Ramsey told Judge Ches-
nut that the revenue agents found
about $4,000 in cash In a bank
safe deposit box belonging to
Sheriff. He said this was part Of
the protection money.
According to county authorities.
the total annual salary Of the
Prince Georges sheriff in 1943-
1945 was $2,450. In l946 the
sheriff's pay was s2,700.
After reviewing the year-by-
year evasion charged in q four
count indictment. Mr.. Ramsey
said Of the defendant:
He readily admitted TO the
agent that he got, in the four
years as sheriff, about $4,000
worth Of protection money"
Protection from WHAT" asked
Judge Chestnut.
From the exercise OF his duties
from gambling elements In the
area"
Referred to As "Gratuities."
In a brief statement for Sheriff.
Mr.. Mccullough referred to the
$22 900 as "gratuities.
do you really think these were
gratuities?" Judge Chestnut In
quired.
Il think" replied the lawyer.
"the people who sent the money
thought they were getting protec-
tion. But actually law inforce-
ment is no longer a matter for
the sheriff's Office, it Is the re-
sponsibility Of the police. So Mr..
Sheriff considered these to b.
gifts"
Judge Chestnut commented that
If this we're true the money would
not be taxable. He said:
In that case, to tax the money.