William J. Edwards, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced today that an information has been filed against Randy J. Horvat, charging him with five counts of income tax evasion. According to court records, Randy J. Horvat, resides in Solon, Ohio.

The information alleges that Horvat was the owner, operator, and principal officer of Cleveland Metal Exchange, Ltd., Warrensville Heights, Ohio. The information further alleges that Horvat failed to report certain sources of income of Cleveland Metal Exchange during the years 2001 through 2005 and that he caused the business to claim certain false deductions for those years. Specifically, the information alleges that, during those years, Horvat reported taxable income of more than $5 million and taxes due and owing of approximately $1.7 million. The information charges that Horvat failed to report additional income of $795,185 on which there were taxes due and owing of $230,609.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John D. Sammon, following an investigation by the Cleveland Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division.

An information is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.