SILVER SPRING MAN ARRESTED ON INCOME TAX EVASION CHARGES

Greenbelt, Maryland- United States Attorney Thomas M. DiBiagio, Lynn A. Hunt, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Vicki S. Duane, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, announced that Leon Chen, age 41, of Silver Spring, Maryland was arrested today on criminal tax and stolen property charges. On April 12, 2002, Leon Chen, the President and owner of COMPUTECH, Inc., a company located at 10979 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, Maryland was charged in a five count Indictment by a Federal Grand Jury with income tax evasion for the tax years 1994 through 1997. His wife, Ka L. Man, ("Angela Chen") age 43, was also charged by Indictment.

The indictment charges Leon Chen and his wife, Ka L. Man, co-owners of COMPUTECH, Inc., with sale and receipt of stolen computers. The indictment further charges that between tax years 1994 and 1997, Chen understated his personal income. The indictment alleges that in 1998, Leon Chen and Ka L. Man (aka "Angela Chen") knowingly purchased stolen computers and then resold them to unsuspecting customers.

An indictment is a finding by a federal grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that the crimes charged therein were committed. An indictment is merely an accusation and Mr. Chen is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The maximum penalty for income tax evasion is five years imprisonment, followed by up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000.00 fine. The maximum penalty for possession, receipt, and sale of stolen computers is 10 years, followed by up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000.00 fine.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Odessa P. Jackson.