FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 6, 2001

FEDERAL JUDGE SENDS THAI KITCHEN RESTAURANTS OWNER TO PRISON
AND ORDERS HIM TO PAY I.R.S. $614,604 IN RESTITUTION

(AUSTIN, TEXAS) This morning, U.S. District Judge James Nowlin sentenced SINTOP SENEEWONGSE of Austin to 27 months in Federal Prison and ordered him to pay $614,604.03 in restitution to the I.R.S. for filing a fraudulent 1995 Income Tax Return.

On December 15, 2000, Seneewongse pleaded guilty to one count of subscribing to a false tax return. The factual basis in this case–which Seneewongse admitted to–states that he knowingly filed a1995 tax return that under reported the aggregate gross receipts for his business. The factual basis also claims that Seneewongse under-reported receipts for tax years 1992-1999 which generated a total tax loss of $614,604.03.

This case resulted from an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Lane and DOJ Tax Division attorney Michael Yurkanin.

 

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