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Friday, July 31, 2009

IRS seeks back taxes from embattled vet

The embattled Chester County veterinarian whose medical license has been suspended pending the outcome of a trial on animal cruelty charges is now in trouble with the IRS.

In a federal complaint filed July 7, the U.S. Justice Department asked the U.S. District Court to secure $489,418 in back taxes owed by Thomas Stevenson, operator of Twin Valley Veterinary Clinic in Honey Brook.

The complaint says Stevenson failed to pay federal income taxes between 1994 and 1999 and that his son "acquired his purported interest" in Stevenson's house "for the purpose of assisting Tom Stevenson to evade his federal income tax liabilities." 

The federal government asks the court to compel Stevenson to sell the house in Elverson to pay the debt.

Stevenson's 28-year-old son Joshua Stevenson of Moscow, Idaho, is named in the complaint.

Stevenson also was named in a consumer fraud lawsuit in New Jersey involving a couple that purchased a sick dog from CC Pets, a Lancaster County kennel that used Stevenson's services. That case was settled last week. Terms were not made public.

In March Stevenson was charged with animal cruelty in Lancaster County for allegedly cutting off the tail of a puppy without anesthesia. A pre-trial hearing in the cruelty case is scheduled for Oct. 14 in the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas.

 
Posted by Amy Worden @ 7:04 AM  Permalink | 9 comments
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:26 AM, 07/31/2009
    And he continues to practice veterinary medicine out of his clinic with long time state veterinarian Dr.Paul Knebley.
    — McGruff
  • 1 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:29 AM, 07/31/2009
    Well, doctor to the Amish and Mennonite puppy mills, time to hang up that shingle. Guess all that cash & carry debarking and tail-chopping is catching up to you. Oh yeah, and all those pre-signed health certificates. According to the PA kennel inspection reports, you’re the vet to hundreds of puppy mills. How on earth is it physically possible to see tens of thousands of puppies and dogs every year?
    — Macy
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:02 PM, 07/31/2009
    I don't believe Paul Knebley, a respected state vet, would ever fill in for Stevenson. He would never be a party to anything to do with this nasty business. He would know that people would be watching his every move. He would know that people would wonder how a vet of his esteem would even meet Stevenson or how could ever lower himself to work with one of the worst animal abusers this country has ever seen. He would know that the spotlight that fried Stevenson and exposed his disgraceful activities would now be turned on him. I just don't think he, or any other vet for that matter, would follow Stevenson over the cliff. It would be madness. I hope Knebley is paying taxes on all that under-the-table Amish cash if he is helping Stevenson.
    — RE-Joyce
  • 1 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:15 PM, 07/31/2009
    It is not surprising Stevenson involved his poor son in all this ugliness. He paraded his children through his hearing in Quarryville to get sympathy from the judge (didn't work). Can you image throwing your own child under the bus just to get out of paying your taxes? Well, if the kid does go to jail, Stevenson will have seven or eight more to take his place. So sad. Father's Day must be really tough in their house. What to get the man who loves no one but himself. Thinks about no one but himself. Joshua must know what Stalin's kids must have felt like.
    — RE-Joyce
  • 1 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:42 PM, 07/31/2009
    Non-payment of taxes is something that hopefully will bring down many of these commercial kennels. The IRS has been told for many years about the cash business going on in PA. Hopefully Dear Dr. S is only the first in a long line of take downs Remember that is how they finally got Al Capone. Can't imagine the puppy millers are smarter than he was. Wouldn't it be wonderful if they started setting fines for the pollution that the kennels are causing. Pennsylvania would have a lot more money in their budget if they did that.
    — SPAYME
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:43 PM, 07/31/2009
    Wondering if the "independent" vet who inspected CC Pets as part of the consent decree Joyce signed with the Attorney General was Stevenson? The authorities should look into this. Not exactly an impartial expert???
    — RE-Joyce
  • 1 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:24 PM, 07/31/2009
    I have a friend in Honey Brook who used to be a client of Tom Stevenson until she got fed up with his Amish antics, as she calls them. She said Tom would think nothing of leaving the exam room in the middle of an appointment to run out the back door to “look at vans full of puppies” for the Amish. She assumed he was doing puppy “health checks”. And she saw a lot of cash exchange hands. Guess money talks and it sure looks like it’s talking now (thank you IRS, from those of us who pay our taxes on time!). Honey Brook residents know what’s going here - they must be so distressed seeing the Amish Mafia running in and out all day and night.
    — Summer Stoltzfus
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:26 PM, 08/17/2009
    I would like to introduce myself. I am Caleb G. Stevenson, son of Dr. Thomas F. Stevenson. That last statement brings me no shame. In fact it brings me joy and ease. My father has given up time, money, and a great part of his life in order to protect and provide for us kids. In response to Re-Joyce's second comment, I was among those paraded children and I can tell you that we all gladly and nervously attended the hearing. We did not come for sympathy from the judge, but for strength for our father. Each of us kids are reminders to my dad of why he is not just admitting to these false accusations. That admission in and of itself would be false. My father believes in the truth and that is why he is going through this trouble. If it was about money, he would have settled out of court, had his license reinstated, and made back that money. Thus, the reason we children attended the hearing and will continue to attend any future court procedures will be to keep our father accountable. When he is sitting on the stand and looks into the crowd and his wife and children are looking back at him, he would have to bear the ten eyes of his wife and four youngest boys in order to lie. I know this about my father because I worked at the clinic for several years until I lost my job with my dad in May. I am not foreign from my dad. I know him very well. In conclusion, Father's Day around our house is full of thanksgiving and appreciation for our father. My four siblings who have moved out all remember to call and talk for a little and say how much they love and appreciate my dad. I would have no idea how Stalin's kids felt. I guess my dad does have a mustache, but that’s about the only resemblance. Sincerely, Caleb Graham Stevenson P.S. I wrote this letter completely of my own volition.
    — CGrahamStevenson
  • 0 like this / 1 don't   •   Posted 2:53 PM, 08/17/2009
    This is the aforementioned Josh Stevenson, Philadelphia Inquirer minor celeb de jour. Caleb, I'm shocked by your revelation that Mom has ten eyes. The sort of thing that we can expect when someone spends time around Dr. Thomas Stevenson, I suppose. Would a human actually acknowledge such a monster? Like must attract like. And so Mom has ten eyes. It’s possible though, Caleb, that you might be doing some scapegoating here. Your claim seems absurd. It seems intended to de-humanize Mom, making it easier to stand at odds with her, and to simplify a very complex issue. If she's a monster we don't owe her anything, and slander and libel are her due. However, I think I do owe her something. Money. About $20. I didn’t realize I was short before I ordered that third round of jello shots. She, Dad, and I were hanging out at Red Robin plotting evil and destruction against puppies and the financial well-being of the federal government. Our tastes run broad. Our malice brooks no boundaries. Anyway, I also want so express a profound relief: I’m glad someone finally made the Al Capone and Stalin comparison. I’ve been worried that no one was really taking us seriously. However, with two thrifty blog comments RE-Joyce and Spayme have set the record straight, and seem to really show an interest in treating this matter sensibly and with the scale it deserves. Hats off to them. Also, RE-Joyce and MrGruff: It's Dr. Knebbley. Keep your B's straight. Keeping it evil, Josh (Lil’ Satan) Stevenson P.S. Is “Lil’ Satan” taking it too far? I thought it sounded catchy and pretty evil. Also, we should try to hide our Jewish heritage or we might end up just getting scapegoated here.
    — Josh Stevenson


9 comments
About Amy Worden
Amy Worden is a politics and government reporter for the Inquirer. In that capacity she has explored a range of animal issues from dog kennel law improvements and horse slaughter to the comeback of peregrine falcons and pigeon hunts. From hamsters to horses, animals have always been part of her life. To pass along a tip or contact Amy, click here.
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