<\/p>\n
People will go to any lengths to keep their finances secret and avoid paying taxes \u2014 even handing their cash over to a man running a bank out of his house.<\/p>\n
According to court records, Robert Arant, from Des Moines, Washington, ran a so-called \u201cwarehouse bank\u201d named Olympic Business Systems which had hundreds of customers. The IRS has filed a civil case alleging he promoted abusive tax shelters and unlawfully interfered with revenue laws.<\/p>\n
The documents claim he took customers\u2019 cash and pooled it in various accounts with legitimate banks. He would then pay customers\u2019 bills from said accounts, charging $75 annually for the service plus assorted maintenance fees (such as for wire transfers). IRS agent Susan Killingsworth said Arant\u2019s clients could buy debit cards for $30 with which they could access their money.<\/p>\n
He apparently advertised his company as being for people \u201cwho would rather not deal directly with the banking system\u201d. He doesn\u2019t seem all that put out by the impending civil case.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019ll be me against the beast,\u201d he said, before adding the US Government is \u201ca beast with no teeth\u201d.<\/p>\n
So I ask you digital reader, is this man a hero or a villain? Should we respect him for defying the state and system, or revile him for transgressing said system?<\/p>\n