Frank George - Page 9




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          conduct an in camera investigation before rejecting his Fifth               
          Amendment claim.  Petitioner declined to testify at trial, and              
          the Court did not order him to testify.  Because this is neither            
          a criminal proceeding nor a contempt proceeding and no direct               
          sanction was imposed against petitioner as a result of his                  
          refusal to testify, the cases on which he relies are not in                 
          point.  See, e.g., United States v. Drollinger, 80 F.3d 389, 392            
          (9th Cir. 1996); United States v. Bodwell, 66 F.3d 1000, 1001               
          (9th Cir. 1995); United States v. Neff, 615 F.2d 1235, 1240 (9th            
          Cir. 1980); United States v. Pierce, 561 F.2d 735, 741 (9th Cir.            
          1977).                                                                      
               The documentary and testimonial evidence presented by                  
          respondent satisfied respondent’s burden to connect petitioner to           
          the income determined in the statutory notice.  See Johnston v.             
          Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2000-315 (and cases cited therein).  He            
          did not present credible evidence that would affect the burden of           
          proof under section 7491(a).  In addition, the evidence presented           
          by respondent satisfied respondent’s burden of production with              
          respect to the penalties.  See sec. 7491(c); Higbee v.                      
          Commissioner, 116 T.C. 438, 446-449 (2001).  The burden is on               
          petitioner to prove that respondent’s determinations are                    
          erroneous.  He cannot avoid that burden by claiming the Fifth               
          Amendment privilege and attempting to convert “the shield * * *             
          which it was intended to be into a sword”.  United States v.                






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