As reported in today’s article, someone purporting to be Erie County Councilman Ebert G. Beeman’s deceased father has written a letter claiming he owns a parcel the IRS plans to seize from the councilman.

Beeman allegedly owes the IRS $2.1 million in unpaid taxes, interest and penalties. U.S. District Judge Sean J. McLaughlin ruled in June that Beeman was liable  for the tax debt, but said the IRS would need to wait to auction four of his parcels until Beeman’s corporate entities had an opportunity to defend their interests.

The letter, docketed Monday at U.S. District Court, is addressed to McLaughlin. Here’s a copy:

But Howard Beeman, Beeman’s father, died on April 6, 1997. Here’s his obituary published in the Erie Daily Times:

Beeman told Times-News reporter Lisa Thompson he was unaware of the letter. So, the question remains: Who wrote it?