False tax return sends man to jail
A Chattanooga man faces two years in prison and more than $308,000 in restitution following a federal judge’s ruling Thursday.
Chief U.S. District Judge Curtis Collier sentenced Reginald Hadley to the prison term plus one year of supervised probation and ordered him to pay restitution for “preparing and filing a false income tax return for another,” according to a U.S. Attorney’s office release.
Hadley worked as a tax return preparer for Rapid Refunds in Chattanooga from 2004 to 2008, according to the release. He pleaded guilty May 13 to one count of preparing and filing a false income tax return.
He admitted preparing a false 2007 tax return for a married couple that claimed a $9,719 refund and to “preparing a fraudulent tax return” with false business expenses, knowing the businesses did not exist, according to the release.
The false claims meant the filers got a refund instead of owing taxes.
“Our office will make every effort to prosecute those who are in the business of cheating the American taxpayer,” said U.S. Attorney Bill Killian. “Taxpayer fraud costs those who work hard and pay their fair share.”
Suspect held on assault charges
A 48-year-old Chattanooga man has a Nov. 15 court date after a Friday morning stabbing on Windsor Street.
Tim Tellis is charged with aggravated domestic assault and aggravated assault, according to a police release.
Witnesses and the victim — Dominique Timmons, 18 — told police that Tellis was banging on the apartment door at 2302 Windsor St. and refusing to leave before police arrived at 2:16 a.m.
Tellis is the former boyfriend of Timmons’ mother, according to the report.
Timmons went outside and “was attacked and stabbed in the stomach and elbow by Tellis,” according to the report.
Witnesses told police that Tellis was “intoxicated and began throwing objects at a witness.”
Timmons was taken to a hospital, and his condition was unknown Friday evening. Court records show previous charges against Tellis include burglary, aggravated assault, public intoxication, sexual battery, theft, DUI, domestic violence and passing worthless checks.
Man arrested on drug charges
A 56-year-old Ringgold man was being held Friday on a $46,000 bond for multiple drug and weapons charges after police searched his motel room near the Chattanooga Airport.
Bennie Douglas Hullender has been charged with felony possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance and unlawful carrying or possession of firearms, according to a sheriff’s release.
Hamilton County sheriff’s narcotics investigators and agents with the Georgia Lookout Mountain Judicial Drug Task Force executed the warrant about 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Extended Stay Motel, 6240 Airpark Drive.
Police found drugs, several weapons and “a large sum of cash,” during the search, the release stated.
Compiled by staff writer Todd South; contact him at tsouth@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6347.