COLUMBUS, OHIO - Gregory G. Lockhart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Cromwell A. Handy, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation, announced that Jon C. Pensyl, age 67, of Scottsdale, Arizona, was indicted today by a grand jury in a three-count indictment. The indictment charged Jon Pensyl with three counts of tax evasion for the years 1995, 1996, and 1997. It alleges that he attempted to evade his taxes by failing to file tax returns and by concealing and attempting to conceal his true income from the Internal Revenue Service.

The indictment alleges that Jon C. Pensyl was a practicing dentist at 6560 N. High Street in Worthington, Ohio for the years 1995 through 1997, and owned a one-half interest in High Street Properties, which owned the building at 6560 N. High Street, as well as two other properties on High Street. In addition, the indictment alleges that in 1992 Pensyl inherited shares of stock in Huntington Bank, Inc. from his deceased aunt, Amelia P. Child which he later sold in 1997. The indictment alleges that Pensyl created two trust entities to which he later transferred his Ohio and Arizona residences, his dental practice, his business bank accounts, his personal bank accounts, some of his Huntington Bank, Inc. shares, and other personal assets.

The indictment alleges that Pensyl earned substantial income in 1995, 1996, and 1997 from the operation and sale of his dental practice, the rental receipts of his interest in High Street Properties, and the sale of his Huntington Bank, Inc. shares, yet failed to file tax returns reporting the income.

Each tax evasion count in the indictment carries a maximum penalty of five years of imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine.

Further questions may be directed to trial attorneys Rich Rolwing and John Sullivan of the U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division, Washington, D.C., at (202) 514-5150.

An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.