Political Consultant Doug Guetzloe Found Guilty on Fed Tax Charges

Central Florida political consultant Doug Guetzloe was found guilty Wednesday afternoon of failing to file tax returns -- in what the Orlando Sentinel calls "the latest setback" in his scrimmage with the Internal Revenue Service.

It took a 12-member jury only 30 minutes to find Guetzloe, one of the founders of the Florida TEA Party, guilty of two misdemeanor counts of wilful failure to file tax returns. He now faces up to two years in federal prison. Sentencing is scheduled for May 21.

According to the Sentinel, prosecutors said he failed to file returns on almost $187,000 in income in 2005, and more than $188,000 in 2006. IRS employees testified that Guetzloe repeatedly filed his returns late, and because of that, accrued more than $200,000 in fines and penalties, which he paid. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg told jurors Guetzloe consciously made the decision not to file his tax returns.