BRUNSWICK — Two Brunswick men indicted on federal tax fraud and conspiracy charges pleaded not guilty to the charges on Friday and were released pending an Oct. 7 court appearance.

F. William Messier, 70, who was indicted on seven federal tax fraud and conspiracy, was released on a $100,000 unsecured bond, according to court documents.

Messier, who owns a number of communication towers in Brunswick and leases space to cellular phone companies, is charged with failing to pay $172,000 in federal income taxes and failing to file a federal income tax return every year since 1997.

David E. Robinson, 75, of Brunswick, who claims to be the “interim attorney general” of the “Maine Republic Free State,” pleaded not guilty to a single count of conspiracy to defraud the IRS and was released on $10,000 bond, according to court documents. Robinson allegedly worked with Messier to thwart the IRS investigation, according to prosecutors.

Both men were released under the same conditions, including that they surrender their passports and do not travel outside Maine, according to court documents.

Messier and Robinson men are scheduled to appear before U.S. District Court Judge D. Brock Hornby on Oct. 7

Messier faces up to 13 years in prison and fines totaling $1 million if convicted on all counts.

Robinson faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

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