October 8, 2002

PRESS RELEASE

LYNNFIELD MAN SENTENCED FOR TAX EVASION

Boston, MA... A Lynnfield man was sentenced today in federal court for tax evasion.

United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan and Joseph A. Galasso, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, in New England, announced today that ROBERT H. EREMIAN, age 50, of Lynnfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Joseph L. Tauro to two years' probation and restitution in the amount of $58,422. EREMIAN pleaded guilty on June 20, 2002 to a one count information alleging tax evasion.

At the earlier plea hearing, the prosecutor told the Court that had the case proceeded to trial the Government's evidence would have proven that in 1997, EREMIAN received income resulting in taxable income in the approximate amount of $144,270, and income tax due in the approximate amount of $58,422. EREMIAN evaded and attempted to evade this tax owed by failing to make and file a tax return and by committing other acts to conceal his income.

In addition to paying the restitution in the amount of $58,422, as part of the resolution of his tax liabilities, EREMIAN made payments to the IRS totaling over $458,196, and has acknowledged owing at least an additional $367,518 in interests and penalties.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, the Massachusetts State Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Auerhahn in Sullivan's Organized Crime Strike Force Unit.

Press Contact: Samantha Martin, (617) 748-3139