March 14, 2002
For Immediate Release
P R E S S R E L E A S E
A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today charging KIM YOUNG SUK JOHNSTON, of Honolulu, with willfully attempting to evade and defeat income tax due and owing by her to the United States. The indictment alleges that JOHNSTON signed and caused to be submitted to the Internal Revenue Service false U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns for 1995, 1996 and 1997.
Edward H. Kubo, Jr., United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii, said that according to the indictment, in 1995, JOHNSTON claimed that her taxable income was $8,733.00 knowing that it was $130,754.93; in 1996, JOHNSTON claimed that her taxable income was $34,158.00, knowing that it was $76,410.37; and in 1997, JOHNSTON claimed that her taxable income was $94,513.00, knowing that it was $230,830.17.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment and a fine up to $250,000 as to each count.
United States Attorney Kubo cautioned that an indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The indictment was the result of an investigation conducted by Criminal
Investigation of the Internal Revenue Service. Assistant United States
Attorney Leslie E. Osborne, Jr. is handling the prosecution.
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