Ellis, a two-time Busch series champ ran a couple of "Buzz Thru" car washes with his wife. After the Ellis' put the operations up for sale they were contacted by an undercover IRS agent. Pretending to be interested in the purchase of the car washes, the agent was able to obtain evidence from Ellis who bragged that the washes generated alot more cash than they were reporting to the IRS.
The couple was actively hiding cash earned by maintaining two sets of books which Tommy Ellis showed the agent. His wife was actively involved in creating the accounting records.
The motivation appears to have been to maintain a measure of luxury beyong any reasonable expectation of necessity or debt. As Ellis said in Court, there was "no reason" for the crime.
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