It was announced today that Gary and Marladeen Jokela of Valdez, Alaska were sentenced by Judge H. Russell Holland in U.S. District Court for Tax Evasion.

According to the court filings, the couple last filed a tax return ion 1984, and Gary Jokela had outstanding tax liabilities since 1998 or earllier that he had not paid. The IRS had sent G. Jokela several notices informing him that the IRS was going to levy his bank accounts and wages for previously assessed taxes he owed.

In response to these notices, the Jokelas began cashing his paychecks rather than depositing them in their joint bank account. It was found that Gary had cashed more than $170,000 in paychecks after being notified bythe IRS.

Gary’s wife Marladeen would open a bank account of her own about the same time. This one in her own name without Gary’s name or social security number associated to it. During several years, Marladeen deposited over $112,000 into that account.

In 2004, The Jokelas submitted an IRS Form W-4 claiming “Exempt” from federal income tax withholding. The IRS decided to garnish Gary’s wages directly from his employer. The Jokelas talked his employer’s bookkeeper into ignoring the IRS notices.

In court, the Jokelas admitted to failing repeatedly to make any payments to the IRS between the years 1998 and 2008, continually spent income on other personal items, including a motor home, a timeshare, and vacations. Between 2002 and 2008, the couple made more than $150,000 in credit card purchases, including vacations to Mexico and Hawaii; more than $30,000 on a motor home; and of more than $35,000 on other personal vehicles. Likewise, between 1998 and 2008, the Jokelas made $15,000 in payments on a timeshare in Florida.

Saying that their conduct was a “blatant case of tax evasion,” and that they showed a “total lack of respect,” Judge Holland handed down a sentence of one year in federal prison for tax evasion for Gary Jokela. His wife was sentenced to six months as well. She also has six months of home confinement. In addition, they must pay restitution in the amount of $51,889. The IRS will seek interest and penalties on top of that amount.