Department of Justice Seal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAX

TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 1999

(202) 514-2007

WWW.USDOJ.GOV

TDD (202) 514-1888


TWELFTH NBA REFEREE PLEADS GUILTY TO TAX CHARGE


WASHINGTON, D.C. - Former NBA referee Leander Jones pleaded guilty to a one-count information charging him with filing a false individual income tax return for 1993, the Justice Department announced.

According to his plea agreement, filed yesterday in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, Jones admitted submitting vouchers to the NBA in 1992 and 1993 for first class plane tickets, for which he received full reimbursement, although he actually purchased coach class tickets. Jones then kept the difference and did not report the money on his tax returns, failing to report a total of $41,082 for those years. As a result, he understated his tax liability by $14,425, exclusive of penalties and interest.

Jones faces a maximum sentence of three years incarceration and a $100,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service and prosecuted by Department of Justice, Tax Division Trial Attorneys Barry Jonas and Karen E. Kelly.

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