Former Christian County reserve deputy pleads guilty to tax fraud

SBJ file photo

In June 2017, Marty Brickey makes his case for innocence in a $14.5 million fraud scheme. He pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of failing to pay employee payroll taxes to the IRS.

A former Christian County reserve deputy sheriff pleaded guilty yesterday to tax fraud related to video game businesses he owned and operated.

Marty Brickey, 47, of Republic, admitted to committing one count of failure to pay collected payroll taxes from employees to the IRS, according to a news release from the office of Timothy Garrison, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri.

Brickey was originally charged in May 2015 in a 30-count federal indictment alleging wire fraud, money laundering and failure to pay employment taxes. In mid-2017, he called a news conference to make his case for innocence in the alleged $14.5 million fraud scheme.

During the conference, Brickey said his legal team had a plan to “humiliate” the federal government and that the accusations against him were “asinine.”

Don Ledford, spokesman for Garrison’s office, this morning said the charges of wire fraud and money laundering will be dismissed at a yet-to-be-scheduled sentencing hearing.

Under the terms of his guilty plea yesterday, Brickey agreed to pay $114,449 in restitution to the IRS and $539,260 in restitution in connection with investments made to Brickey or his video game businesses. The restitution to investors is related to funds Brickey solicited to bring a video game to market, plans that did not come to fruition. According to the release, Brickey’s plea agreement does not mean he admitted to criminal culpability or civil liability. The government also is not alleging criminal culpability related to the investments.

In the guilty plea, Brickey did admit to intentionally causing $114,449 in tax losses to the IRS.

Under federal statutes, Brickey could face up to five years in federal prison without parole, according to the release.

Brickey’s Interzone Entertainment LLC had office in Springfield, Chicago, Australia, Brazil and China before dissolving in early 2010. He also owned Big Collision Games LLC, Zoonik USA Inc. and Studio Avenue Inc.

Brickey also had been tied to former Christian County Sheriff Joey Kyle, though in the news conference last year, he downplayed the relationship. Brickey admitted he was Subject No. 2 in court documents against Kyle, who in May 2015 pleaded guilty to embezzling county funds and laundering the proceeds of a political supporter’s investment fraud scheme. Brickey said allegations that Kyle received money for his role in promoting an investment fraud led by Brickey were unsubstantiated.