U.S. Department of Justice
Office of the United States Attorney
Middle District of Tennessee

PRESS RELEASE

April 22, 2003

Contact: James K. Vines
United States Attorney
(615) 736-5151

READYVILLE RESIDENT CHARGED WITH TAX EVASION

Nashville, TN - April 22, 2003 - James K. Vines, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, announced that a federal grand jury in Nashville returned an indictment against Rickey Paul Brunet charging him with three counts of income tax evasion. The indictment, returned on April 10, 2003, was unsealed before U.S. District Magistrate Judge Brown on April 21, 2003.

The indictment alleges that Brunet, a computer aided design draftsman, failed to file income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service for the calendar years 1996, 1997, and 1998, attempted to cause his social security number to be concealed from the IRS, and attempted to discourage employees of a company called Square D from cooperating with IRS inquiries concerning him and a corporation called Brunet, Inc. around July 1998. Additionally, the indictment states that on or about August 31, 1998, Brunet wrote that he was "exempt" from federal withholding on a Form W-4 provided by a company called Westaff.
According to the indictment, from 1993 until approximately June 1995, Brunet worked as an independent contractor and received Forms 1099 documenting income that he received during the years 1993-1995. Around June 1995, Brunet caused a Tennessee corporation named Brunet, Inc., to be formed, and from 1996 through 1998, Brunet caused businesses to pay Brunet, Inc., for services performed by Brunet.

Arraignment is set for April 30, 2003. Brunet faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $750,000 if convicted on all three counts.
This investigation was conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent George J. Villhard III. U.S. Department of Justice-Tax Division Trial Attorneys Kris Hrones and Patrick M. Pericak are representing the government.
It should be noted that charges brought against Brunet are accusations only and he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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