LA Filmmaker Sentenced In Massachusetts Tax Credit Scheme

Daniel Adams was arrested in December and charged with defrauding Massachusetts of about $5 million in inflated tax credits he obtained for the movies The Lightkeepers (2009) and The Golden Boys (2008). He wrote and directed both and shot them in the state. Today, he was sentenced to a 2- to 3-year state prison term that will begin May 10. He was also placed on 10 years' probation and he must repay the state $4.377 million. Prosecutors allege Los Angeles-based Adams intentionally inflated expenses when completing forms for the tax credit and the state overpaid his production companies. One of Adams' alleged false claims was paying Richard Dreyfuss $2.5 million for Lightkeepers when the actor's actual fee was $400,000. Adams was most recently attached to direct The Big Valley, based on the TV series was to have starred Jessica Lange in the Barbara Stanwyck role. His lawyer said today Adams still hopes to finish that movie.