Lindsey Kent Springer of Kellyville and Oscar Amos Stilley of Fort Smith, Ark., were charged on March 10 with engaging in a conspiracy to defraud the United States.

According to the indictment, Springer used the name Bondage Breakers Ministry to solicit and receive money.

His stated purpose for Bondage Breakers Ministry was “to get rid of the Internal Revenue Service,” according to the grand jury.

The indictment alleges that Stilley, while practicing as an attorney, assisted Springer’s tax evasion through a variety of means.

While Stilley reserved his right to make an opening statement on Tuesday, Springer — who is representing himself — told the jury of his belief that God asked him to help get rid of the IRS.

Springer told the jurors that everything he did was in “good faith” and that they should view the evidence with his beliefs — not theirs — in mind.

“This is about looking out through my eyes,” Springer said. “You might not like what you see through my eyes.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Snoke told the jurors during his opening statement that Bondage Breakers Ministry was not a legitimate charity or a church.

Snoke said Stilley and Springer, both of whom are in their 40s — began working as a team almost 10 years ago to help people accused of violating tax laws.

According to the indictment, Stilley maintained an interest-bearing account, called an Arkansas IOLTA — or Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts — Foundation Trust account, which lawyers use to deposit and hold client funds.

The pair are accused of using the account and various other devices such as cashier’s checks, check-cashing services, money orders and cash to conceal Springer’s actual income and avoid creating the usual records of financial institutions.

Springer is alleged to have told IRS employees that all the funds he received were gifts and donations to his ministry and that he didn’t have any income or provide services for payment.

The indictment lists numerous transactions between Springer and Stilley involving hundreds of thousands of dollars that allegedly flowed through the IOLTA account, including $166,000 paid in August 2005 to buy a motor home and a September 2005 payment of $25,813 to buy a Lexus.

Snoke told the jury that neither Springer nor Stilley has filed an income-tax return since the late 1980s.

The trial before U.S. District Judge Stephen Friot is expected to last two or three weeks.

Besides the conspiracy charge, Springer faces five counts alleging criminal violations of the federal tax laws. Stilley is accused of aiding and abetting Springer in two of those alleged crimes.