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June 08, 2006
The clarion call of Justice
Shhh. What's that sound?
A federal District Court in Chattanooga has found Grammy winning trumpeter Phil Driscoll guilty of using his Christian ministry to cheat on taxes. Jurors acquitted Driscoll on one count, but convicted him of both conspiracy and tax evasion for funneling personal expenses through Mighty Horn Ministries, which he founded in Cleveland, Tennessee.
And so should it be for all who use "ministry" to defraud. Sure, it was the IRS angle that got him in trouble, but that's the technical part. The real problem is that we have these snake oil salesmen posing as leaders, healers, or whatever, and they con (or Conn, if you will) their way into places of power and wealth.
A person has to be criminally arrogant to perpetrate such a scam. I guess his trumpets aren't the only items made of brass. Or perhaps it was all the "blow."
As a fellow musician, albeit one not nearly as successful (if that's what it is), I hate to see this happen to a talented individual. Greed is like that, though, and I think there's a lesson here for all of us.
While "Taps" plays for a mighty career, consider the organizations and individuals in whom you place trust (i.e., to whom you send money). This trial and conviction may provide a good opportunity to re-evaluate some of those relationships.
News | By joe lance | 09:51 PM