A Whites Creek man has been charged with tax fraud and linked to a national scheme that Department of Justice investigators say cost taxpayers $120 million. In a statement Tuesday, DOJ officials said David Clum Jr. was one of seven people who filed almost 400 false tax returns and put on seminars in Florida and Tennessee to recruit clients. Clum, who has not yet been arraigned, faces up to 215 years in prison if convicted.

According to the indictment, the false return scheme was national in scope, causing the filing of tax returns for at least 180 clients from 30 different states, requesting more than $120 million worth of fraudulent tax refunds. The indictment alleges that the defendants and clients of the scheme collectively filed more than 380 tax returns, mostly from tax year 2008 but also for other tax years, reporting the amount of their personal debt obligations as both income and as federal tax withholding.

Brentwood collection agency owner Terry Miller was charged Monday by area authorities with five counts of fraud and one count of identity theft. Miller stands accused of, among other things, not paying his customers their promised money and reaching into the bank accounts of debtors to fund his company and his lifestyle. He faces a potential prison term of more than three decades as well as a fine of up to $1 million. The Williamson Herald has more.

“Terry Marvin Miller thought he could hide his illegal activities by stealing and using the identities of others to defraud banks and other institutions, but he was mistaken,” said U.S. Attorney Martin. “Mr. Miller thought he could hide behind the corporate shield of his collection agency to commit fraud. This office will pursue identity thieves wherever they may hide."

Officials at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement division of the Department of Homeland Security have tentatively chosen a Corrections Corp. of America plan to build a 1,800-bed prison northwest of Miami. The site on the edge of the Everglades is planned to house immigrants awaiting hearings and is set to cost more than $100 million to build.

Southwest Ranches' filing with the county describes the facility as "non-penal in nature" and would promote a relaxed atmosphere -- whatever that's supposed to mean.

Local analyst Kevin Campbell of Avondale Partners estimates the contract, if finalized, could add between 5 and 10 cents to CCA's annual profits per share when it comes online, likely in late 2013. The Nashville-based company is expected to earn $1.49 this year. Its shares (Ticker: CXW) are up about 1.3 percent this afternoon to $21.10.

Could the state's war on bath salts be hampered by the budget?

Because of the $500,000 "fiscal note," the bill now goes to the Senate Finance Committee, where Stewart acknowledged it may have problems because there's no money to cover the cost in a time of budget cutbacks. Stewart said he has discussed the situation with Gov. Bill Haslam and others and hopes some funding solution can be found.

Perhaps Sen. Campfield is anticipating a slate of drug legalization laws that would put us in conflict with the Federal Government, or maybe he's preparing for enforcement of some consumer protection laws, I'm not sure...

A tipster called and said they saw a moving truck outside with seven agents loading up boxes from the home. Shelton said they are there to remove property but haven't touched a thing yet. Marshals can't remove property because Marsha Whitfield filed for personal bankruptcy. Shelton said they will remain on the property pending orders of the court.

On GUateliving.com, Cassman posted daily observations about life, promoted business ideas, offered to have drinks with those looking to invest in the area, bragged about how he knew how to bypass or manipulate Guatemalan government officials, and appeared to generally take pleasure in goading readers into Internet fights. Using the nom de plume Don Marco, he quickly became a pariah to some and a mysterious friend to others. In one post, Cassman seemed to present himself as a successful businessman, while in another, he belittled and berated citizens of his adopted home. This happened frequently. Ex-pats living in Antigua who met him there have told The City Paper that he would say little in detail about his past except to claim he was from Phoenix, where he worked as an investment banker and had cashed out because he saw the current economic crisis coming.