Staples Man Charged With Multiple Tax Crimes

(KNSI) — A Staples man is charged with four felonies after allegedly failing to file income tax returns.

According to the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office complaint, Blaine Butler failed to file his state income tax returns for tax years 2017 through 2020, despite earning enough income through his employers during those years to be required to file income tax returns in Minnesota. They also accuse Butler’s wife, Melony Butler, the director of the Eagle’s Healing Nest in Sauk Centre, of taking money from the nonprofit and using it for personal expenses. That money should have been reported as taxable income on their joint returns.

The Minnesota Department of Revenue says despite receiving multiple letters from the department demanding they file the missing returns, the Butlers allegedly failed to do so until the investigation was nearly complete. However, the complaint states that those returns were based solely on Mr. Butler’s W-2 income and did not include the taxable income they received from Eagle’s Healing Nest.

According to the complaint, Butler owes over $6,200 in income tax, penalties, and interest.

Each tax-related felony charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both.

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