07/08/2009
Portland Man Pleads Guilty to Evading Payment of Around $75,000 in Federal Income Taxes
Money was transfered out of the United States and not disclosed in an attempt to conceal income and assets from the Internal Revenue Service
Portland, Ore. – Javid David Azari, 60, pled guilty this week before U.S. District Judge Ancer L. Haggerty to a one count Information charging him with evasion of payment of taxes. As part of the plea agreement, Azari agreed to cooperate with the United States regarding the whereabouts of all money, property or assets derived from, involved in, or used to facilitate his income tax evasion. Sentencing is set for September 10, 2009. Azari faces up to five years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.
According to the plea agreement, Azari knew that he had unpaid federal income taxes for the years 1997 through 1999, and he willfully attempted to evade the payment of those taxes. Specifically, according to statements made in open court, Azari transferred money out of the United States in 2000 to a bank in Turkey in an attempt to evade paying taxes on that money in the United States. Furthermore, on November 28, 2001, Azari deposited $465,000 into a TD Waterhouse Brokerage Account in the name of a nominee.
“The Internal Revenue Service is very adept at uncovering international transfers of money which are intended to facilitate income tax evasion,” said Kevin Hanff, the Acting IRS Special Agent in Charge of the Pacific Northwest. “In today’s economic climate, it is more important than ever to hold tax cheats accountable.”
According to www.irs.gov, around 1,000 people a year are convicted of various federal income tax crimes.
This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwight C. Holton.
