Kramer enters guilty plea in tax fraud case

FULDA — Philip Kramer of Fulda filed a plea petition this week in Murray County District Court with regard to one of a string of charges related to fraudulently filing income tax returns.

In his signed plea petition, Kramer, 39, pleaded guilty to felony theft by swindle, more than $35,000. If sentenced in accordance to his plea agreement, Kramer will receive a stay of adjudication, file accurate tax returns for years 2013-2016 and pay all taxes due.

Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 3 in Murray County District Court.

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Fulda couple facing tax fraud charges FULDA -- A Fulda couple accused of fraudulently failing to declare more than $300,0000 in joint income tax returns over four years appeared Monday in Murray County District Court.

Six theft by swindle and three fraud in obtaining credit/money were filed against Kramer earlier this year after a nearly two-year financial investigation into Minnesota state income tax returns filed by Kramer and his wife, Brittney, 34, between 2013 and 2016.

The investigation compared their reported income and what they had access to in loans with checks they wrote. The written checks exceeded what the Kramers reported in taxable income and had access to in loans, and they did not overdraft their account, the complaint states.

The investigation concluded that the Kramers failed to declare approximately $320,540.86 in income on their joint income tax returns during that time. They reportedly failed to pay more than $21,000 in taxes.

Brittney Kramer still has pending charges in Murray County District Court related to the same case. Her jury trial is currently scheduled for Dec. 10-13.

The case is one of three criminal cases filed against Philip Kramer since June 2018 that allege unscrupulous financial activity, including using the fraudulent income tax returns to obtain nearly $500,000 in loans from First State Bank Southwest in Worthington to invest in the couple's farming operation.

In March, 10 criminal charges including aiding and abetting arson, racketeering and coercion were filed against Kramer related to an alleged insurance fraud scheme to repay debts.

Co-defendant Ernest Johnson was convicted in September of first-degree aiding and abetting arson after pleading guilty. Johnson was sentenced to 15 days in jail; he must also pay a $1,000 fine and restitution and testify honestly at Kramer's trial.

If the matters aren't resolved, Kramer's Nobles County District Court trial is scheduled for Dec. 11-13.

The arson case is currently scheduled for a six-day jury trial, beginning April 20 and concluding April 27 with a weekend recess.