PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT: Jim Vines
United States Attorney
READYVILLE RESIDENT FACES ADDITIONAL TAX CHARGE
Nashville, TN - June 6, 2003 - Jim Vines, United States Attorney for the Middle
District of Tennessee, announced that a federal grand jury in Nashville returned
a superseding indictment against Rickey Paul Brunet of Readyville, Tennessee.
The original indictment, which was returned on April 10, 2003, charged Brunet
with three counts of income tax evasion for the years 1996-1998.
The superseding indictment includes a fourth count charging Brunet with income
tax evasion for the year 1995. The superseding indictment alleges that Brunet
willfully attempted to evade and defeat the payment of a large part of the income
tax due and owing by him to the United States for the year 1995 by, among other
things, causing the title to two vehicles to be transferred to "The Partnership
Trust," and transferring the title to his home and property located at
11661 Bradyville Pike in Readyville, Tennessee, to "The Home Trust."
Brunet faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000,
if convicted on all four counts.
This investigation was conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent
George J. Villhard III. Trial Attorneys Kris Hrones and Patrick M. Pericak of
the U.S. Department of Justice-Tax Division are representing the government.
It should be noted that charges brought against a person are accusations only,
and that person is to be presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.