Jacksonville Man Pleads Guilty to Fraud & Tax Crimes
A Jacksonville man pleaded guilty today to tax evasion, not paying employment taxes, bank fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon. Joel Matthew Caswell, 31, pleaded guilty to a Superseding Information charging three counts of tax evasion, three counts of willful failure to pay over employment taxes, one count of bank fraud, one count of wire fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. According to documents and statements made in court, Caswell has ownership and managing interests in multiple logging and construction businesses that collectively employed approximately 40 employees. He was the trustee and a beneficiary of the Caswell Family Trust. From 2018 through 2022, Caswell withheld but failed to pay over trust fund taxes for multiple businesses. In 2019, these unpaid payroll taxes resulted in the IRS assessing the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty. To evade the IRS’s ability to collect what was owed, Caswell directed customers to write checks to other companies or him personally, moved business funds, and lied to collection officers. Separately, between 2022 and 2024, Caswell executed multiple fraud schemes in Oregon that involved submitting fabricated financial records to a bank, a private lender, and the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) to secure loans. Additionally, Caswell used the name, Social Security number, and date of birth of Adult Victim 1 to obtain a residential mortgage. ...Read more
BCC Passes Tobacco Retail Enforcement Resolution, Sheriff's Agreements
The Josephine County Board of Commissioners held a workshop at 1:30 p.m. in consideration of department business. The board moved 2-0 to pass a resolution affirming tobacco retail enforcement as the primary strategy to prevent youth access to tobacco and nicotine products. The resolution would also protect adult consumer choice. Commissioner Colene Martin abstained citing a conflict of interest. The board approved agreements brought by the Sheriff's Office including an Intergovernmental County and City Lease agreement, and a City of Cave Junction Contract Deputy agreement. A United States Forest Service Cooperative Law enforcement agreement, paying $50,000 annually for Sheriff's deputies to patrol national forest lands, passed 3-0. Property Management gave an update regarding the Relocation of County Departments, including Public Health, Facilities, and Planning. Available spaces within the county have been toured before any potential leases are to be considered. According to Property Management, the Dimmick sale is still progressing. July 22nd is the end of due diligence, with the closing to come on or before August 21st. Whether the sale goes through or not will be determined mid-July.
...Read more
Fire Danger Increasing to Moderate Thursday on ODF Southwest Oregon District Land
The fire danger level on Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Southwest Oregon District-protected land will increase to moderate Thursday, June 11th, at 12:01 a.m. Lands affected by this declaration include 1.8 million acres of state, private, county, city and Bureau of Land Management forestlands in Jackson and Josephine counties. The Industrial Fire Precaution Level will remain at one. Despite recent cooler days, vegetation continues to dry, and the increasing heat will accelerate that drying as temperatures climb toward the 100 degree mark. This combination of ongoing drying and rising heat is increasing fire danger and prompting the shift to moderate on Thursday. Public fire restrictions will take effect on that date. Open fires will be prohibited, and the use of chainsaws, the cutting, grinding, and welding of metal, and the mowing of dead or dried grass with power-driven equipment will not be permitted between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Motorized vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, will be allowed only on improved roads free of flammable vegetation. Any other spark-emitting internal combustion engine use is not allowed between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. during moderate fire danger.
...Read more
