District Law Enforcement Officials Partner with Federal Government to Obtain Indictment of Federal Employee for Obstruction of Justice, Perjury, Felony Tax Evasion, Fraud, and Other Tax-Related Offenses

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Michelle Suggs (50 years old) of Upper Marlboro, MD, a Central Intelligence Agency employee, was arrested yesterday after being charged in a 17-count Superior Court indictment with perjury, obstruction of justice, felony tax evasion, first degree fraud and various other tax offenses, Interim D.C. Attorney General Eugene A. Adams and Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey S. DeWitt announced today.

The case originated in 2009, after the defendant was dismissed as a juror at the conclusion of a murder trial. The attorneys for the defendants in the murder case appealed the conviction because Ms. Suggs had been dismissed as a juror, alleging that the District of Columbia’s juror selection system was racially biased. The subsequent investigation revealed that the defendant was a Maryland resident, but was claiming the Homestead Deduction benefit on her rental property in the District of Columbia. The Homestead Deduction is a benefit only available to District of Columbia residents.

The subsequent investigation, led in concert by the D.C. Office of the Chief Financial Officer and the D.C. Office of the Attorney General, revealed that Ms. Suggs had committed first degree tax evasion and first degree fraud – among other tax related offenses.  The charges relate to the defendant’s ownership of rental property in the District of Columbia, her receipt of District of Columbia Housing Voucher Program money, and her individual DC income tax filings. Through her scheme the defendant evaded District of Columbia taxes totaling $10,920.83.

Acting in his capacity as a Special Assistant United States Attorney, District of Columbia Assistant Attorney General in the Public Safety Division Scott J. Peary presented the case to the Superior Court grand jury, along with Assistant United States Attorney Dineen Baker.

Interim Attorney General Adams commended Peary and Baker stating that “this case shows that we will pursue criminal conduct from a decade ago if it is necessary to prosecute someone who egregiously obstructed our criminal justice system.”  Adams added that “it also shows how the United States Attorney’s Office and the D.C. Office of Attorney General can work together to prosecute cases to protect District residents.”

Chief Financial Officer DeWitt cited the work of OCFO Special Agent Edmond Wybaillie.  DeWitt said, “I would like to thank Lead Investigator Edmond Wybaillie for his work on this important case, as well as the OAG for collaborating with the OCFO on this investigation.”