Texas 'ten percenter' accused of cashing 1,445 tickets for other gamblers

A Dallas man has been charged with cashing approximately 1,445 Internal Revenue Service tickets on behalf of others during a three-year period at Lone Star Park. The winnings from tax forms Willie L. Loveless filled out from February 2008 to November 2010 totaled more than $1.69 million, according to a federal indictment. Loveless, who was taken into custody, had his first court appearance on Dec. 4. He pleaded not guilty and was released on bond, according to court officials.

The indictment alleges that Loveless was involved in “ten percenting,” a practice by which a winning gambler “arranges for another individual to cash the gambler’s IRS ticket so the gambler can avoid taxes on the winnings,” according to the indictment. A winning ticket over a certain level of payoff at a racetrack requires tax forms to be filled out before cashing.

Loveless allegedly signed off on tax forms that stated “no other person is entitled to any part of these payments.” Loveless has been charged with 20 counts of fraud and false statements on Form W-2G, and each count carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison. Loveless was also charged with “corruptly obstructing and impeding the due administration of internal revenue laws,” according to the indictment.

In 2008, Loveless allegedly signed approximately 547 forms for winning tickets worth a cumulative $692,681 in winnings. In 2009, he allegedly signed approximately 513 forms worth winnings of $635,681, and in 2010, approximately 385 forms worth winnings of $432,728.

Lone Star officials could not be immediately reached for comment.