FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT: Lauren Horwood
February 15, 2012	PHONE: (916) 554-2706
www.usdoj.gov/usao/cae	usacae.edcapress@usdoj.gov
Docket #: 1:12-cr-00009-LJO

FRESNO, Calif. -- United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced today the arrest of Nohemi Villarreal Noriega, 53, of Patterson. Noriega was charged January 12, 2012 in a sealed indictment with tax evasion and structuring.

According to the indictment, Noriega prepared tax returns through her business, Villarreal’s Business Services in Livingston.  She allegedly evaded payment of her own taxes, totaling more than $167,000 for three years: 2006, 2007, 2008. In addition, the indictment charges that Noriega structured more than $1 million of withdrawals from her bank accounts in amounts designed to avoid filing Currency Transactions Reports, which might have disclosed her unreported income.

This case is the product of an extensive investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Mark J. McKeon prosecuted the case.

Noriega is scheduled for arraignment today in Fresno at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe.

The maximum statutory penalty for tax evasion is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and the maximum statutory penalty for structuring is 10 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. If convicted, the actual sentence will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
The charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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