June 20, 2002

PRESS RELEASE

LYNNFIELD MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO TAX EVASION

Boston, MA... A Lynnfield man was convicted today in federal court of tax evasion.

United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan and Peter Benevento, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, in New England, announced today that ROBERT H. EREMIAN, age 49, of Lynnfield, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joseph L. Tauro to tax evasion for the calendar year 1997.

At today's plea hearing, the prosecutor told the Court that had the case proceeded to trial the Government's evidence would have proven that in 1997, EREMIAN received income resulting in taxable income in the approximate amount of $144,270, and income tax due in the approximate amount of $58,422. EREMIAN evaded and attempted to evade this tax owed by failing to make and file a tax return and by committing other acts to conceal and attempt to conceal his income.

Judge Tauro scheduled sentencing for September 20, 2002. EREMIAN faces up to 5 years' imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, Massachusetts State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Auerhahn in Sullivan's Strike Force Unit.

Press Contact: Samantha Martin, (617) 748-3139