Las Vegas NowAnti-Tax Crusader Irwin Schiff Sentenced

Anti-Tax Crusader Irwin Schiff Sentenced

Anti-tax crusader and author Irwin Schiff has been sentenced to more than 13 years in federal prison for advising people that no U-S law requires them to pay income tax -- and for contempt of court during trial.

The 78-year-old Schiff used his sentencing to again declare his innocence -- accusing what he called a "fascist" government of trying to stifle his truth.

His lawyer pleaded for leniency -- arguing that Schiff is mentally ill. But U-S District Court Judge Kent Dawson in Las Vegas used against Schiff his own witness stand boast that he'd helped thousands of followers legally avoid paying two (B) Billion dollars in taxes.

Schiff took people's money and left them holding the bag, the judge said. Schiff is the author of "The Federal Mafia: How the Government Illegally Imposes and Unlawfully Collects Income Taxes" a book the government has banned as fraudulent commercial speech. He promised to appeal.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)