The United States Attorney's Office

THIRD LOCAL TAQUERIA ARANDAS RESTAURANT OWNER SENTENCED ON FALSE INCOME TAX RETURN CHARGE

(HOUSTON) – Chris Anthony Renaud, of Houston, has been sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison without parole for filing a false income tax returns, United States Attorney Tim Johnson announced today.

Renaud Enterprises Inc. operated a restaurant called Taqueria Arandas No. 1 on the 4600 block of Irvington Boulevard in Houston. Renaud executed a plea agreement on Nov. 10, 2008, in which he admitted that he had filed Corporate Income Tax Returns for Renaud Enterprises Inc. for calendar/tax years 2001 and 2002 that under-reported sales by approximately $725,427 and underpaid income taxes by approximately $245,995. As required by his plea agreement, Renaud paid the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) $485,533 in delinquent taxes, penalties and interest prior to his sentencing. Renaud was also ordered to serve one year under court supervision upon release from prison. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Renaud remains subject to audit and further assessment of taxes, penalties and interest for calendar/tax years 2001 and 2002.

Renaud is one of eight local Taqueria Arandas restaurant owners who have entered pleas of guilty to false tax return charges filed in early September 2008. He is the third to be sentenced. To date, these eight defendants have paid the IRS approximately $4.5 million in delinquent taxes, penalties and interest and all remain subject to audit and further assessment of taxes, penalties and interest. 

The court has permitted Renaud to remain on bond pending the issuance of an order to surrender to a Bureau of Prisons facility to be designated in the near future.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jimmy Sledge Jr. The investigation leading to the charges was conducted by special agents of the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division.

 

 

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