John L. Brownlee
United States Attorney

Patricia A. Grisetti
Media Contact

Thomas B. Mason Building
105 Franklin Rd., S.W.
Roanoke, Virginia 24011
(540) 857-2250
FAX (540) 857-2180

April 11, 2002

United States Attorney John L. Brownlee announced today that Clarence Donald Pugh and Sandra H. Pugh of Madison Heights, VA, were indicted by a federal Grand Jury sitting, in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Mr. and Mrs. Pugh were charged in an eleven count indictment with conspiracy, willfully filing false federal income tax returns, and willfully failing to file a federal income tax return.

If convicted on all counts, the maximum penalty faced by each defendant is 33 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $1,175,000.

The investigation of the case was conducted by agents from the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tom Eckert and Pat Hogeboom and Department of Justice Tax Division attorney Barbara Burch will prosecute the case.

A Grand Jury indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt and the defendant is entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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