Douglas Bruce, father of TABOR and controversy magnet, indicted for tax evasion

Douglas Bruce has made no shortage of enemies over the years -- and plenty of them are likely grinning at the sight of his mug shot, released in conjunction with word that he's been indicted for failing to pay taxes he earned in 2005-2007. His alleged method of evasion? Funneling...

By Michael Roberts

April 8, 2011

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Douglas Bruce has made no shortage of enemies over the years -- and plenty of them are likely grinning at the sight of his mug shot, released in conjunction with word that he's been indicted for failing to pay taxes he earned in 2005-2007. His alleged method of evasion? Funneling income into Active Citizens Together, a nonprofit, without reporting it to the Department of Revenue.

For more details, read the following release from the Colorado Attorney General's Office. Then check out the entire indictment, accompanied by a larger look at Bruce's booking photo.

Colorado Attorney General's Office release:

Attorney General announces indictment against Colorado Springs man suspected of failing to pay taxes

DENVER -- Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today that the Statewide Grand Jury has returned an indictment against Douglas Bruce (DOB: 8/26/1949) of Colorado Springs for failing to pay taxes on income he earned during the 2005, 2006 and 2007 tax years.

According to the four-count indictment, Bruce is suspected of attempting to evade his tax responsibilities by funneling his income into the coffers of Active Citizens Together, a nonprofit he created in 2001, and failing to report such income to the Department of Revenue. Bruce is suspected of filing a false tax return on income he earned during the 2005 tax year and failing to file a tax return concerning income he earned during the 2006 and 2007 tax years.

"State law requires that citizens who live in Colorado and enjoy all of the benefits of being a resident pay the appropriate taxes," Suthers said. "No one is exempt from that obligation."

According to the indictment, Bruce is suspected of evasion of taxes administered by the Colorado Department of Revenue, a class-five felony; filing a false tax return, a class-five felony; attempt to influence a public servant, a class-four felony; and failure to file a return or pay a tax, a misdemeanor offense. Bruce could face up to six years in prison or up to $500,000 in fines if convicted of attempt to influence a public servant, a class-four felony.

The Colorado Department of Revenue investigated and referred this case to the Office of the Attorney General for presentation to the Statewide Grand Jury. The grand jury returned the indictment on April 7. Prosecutors for the Office of the Attorney General will present the state's case against Bruce in Denver District Court.

Douglas Bruce Indictment

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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