Concord, NH – Attorney General John M. Formella and Department of Revenue Administration Commissioner Lindsey Stepp announce that Jason Curtis, age 48, of Deerfield, New Hampshire was arraigned on February 23, 2022, on 25 counts of conspiracy to commit tax evasion, 25 counts of conspiracy to commit perjury in a tax report, one count of criminal solicitation to commit falsifying physical evidence, and one count of tampering with witnesses and informants related to his timber harvesting activities for multiple operations across multiple towns between August 16, 2013 and April 14, 2017.

Mr. Curtis was arraigned in the Merrimack County Superior Court on 25 Class B felony counts of Conspiracy to Commit Tax Evasion.  Those indictments allege that between August 16, 2013 and April 14, 2017, Mr. Curtis conspired with another to hide or destroy timber harvest scale slips and underreport the amount of timber harvested from multiple properties with an intent to evade the tax assessed in RSA chapter 79, in violation of RSA 21-J:39, II(a).

Mr. Curtis was also indicted on 25 Class B felony counts of Conspiracy to Commit Perjury in a Tax Report.  Those indictments allege that between August 16, 2013 and April 14, 2017, Mr. Curtis conspired with another to make a written declaration on a New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration tax form under the penalty of perjury, which was known to be false, in that Mr. Curtis conspired with another to underreport the actual volume of total harvested timber from multiple properties, in violation of RSA 21-J:39, II(d).

Mr. Curtis was also indicted on one Class B felony count of Criminal Solicitation to Commit Falsifying Physical Evidence.  That indictment alleges that Mr. Curtis, knowing an investigation into his timber harvest activities was pending, instructed, solicited, and/or induced another to hide or destroy information related to his timber harvesting activities.

Mr. Curtis was also indicted on one Class B felony count of Tampering with Witnesses and Informants.  That indictment alleges Mr. Curtis, knowing an investigation into his timber harvest activities was pending, instructed another to hide or destroy information related to his timber harvesting activities and to inform falsely, withhold testimony, information, or things related to his timber harvesting activities.

Class B felonies are punishable by up to 3 ½ - 7 years at the New Hampshire State Prison and/or a maximum fine of $4,000 for each charge.

The investigation into this case was conducted by Timber Tax Appraiser Rick Evans from the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration and Investigator Scott Gilbert from the Department of Justice, in conjunction with the New Hampshire Division of Forest and Lands.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Joshua Speicher, Assistant Attorney General Nicholas Chong Yen and Assistant Attorney General Joshua Harrison.

The charges and allegations are merely accusations, and Mr. Curtis is presumed innocent until proven guilty.