- 72 - We found Katherine’s and her siblings’ testimony conflicting and implausible for the most part. We agree with respondent that Katherine’s highly implausible and incredible story of receiving a substantial cash hoard from her father is another indication of fraudulent intent. (8) Level of Education, Age, and State of Health Petitioners contend that Frank and Katherine had no formal education and were illiterate. Additionally, petitioners contend that during the years in issue Frank and Katherine were elderly, unsophisticated, and suffering from serious illnesses. Petitioners assert that Frank and Katherine relied on their accountant to prepare their returns because of their lack of education. Petitioners, in effect, argue that those factors negate any inferences of fraud on the part of Frank or Katherine. Under the circumstances here presented, we do not agree with petitioners’ position that Frank’s and Katherine’s lack of formal education, illiteracy, age, lack of sophistication, or health negate inferences of fraud. Although Frank and Katherine may have had no formal education, they do not appear from the record to have lacked business acumen or sophistication. Dr. Schwartz described Katherine as a bright woman and sharp most of the time. Katherine ran a successful palmistry business for more than 50 years. The circumstance that Katherine kept some records relating to her business that she gave to Baptiste for thePage: Previous 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 Next
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