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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
 

United States Attorney Jeffrey G. Collins announced today that a Flint resident was indicted by a federal grand jury in Detroit on April 15, 2003 on 21 charges of aiding the preparation of false income tax returns, and one count of obstructing the Internal Revenue Service. Named in the indictment was CHAR LEE FRAZIER, 50, who operates Frazier's Accounting and Investment Services in Flint, and also runs Frazier's Racing Stables, which trains harness-race horses. 

Assistant United States Attorney Robert Haviland, who presented the case to the grand jury, stated "The indictment charges that between 1997 and 2000 Mr. FRAZIER advised several of his clients to file individual income tax returns that were false and fraudulent, in that they reported business expenses that these clients were not entitled to claim. The indictment also charges that Mr. FRAZIER attempted to obstruct and impede the Internal Revenue Service by preparing false monthly invoices for racing business expenses purportedly paid by his clients; preparing other false documents to justify claimed racing business, such as mileage logs; and lied to IRS employees about his clients' tax returns. 

Assistant United States Attorney Haviland added that "If convicted, Mr. FRAZIER may receive a sentence of up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or both, on each of the counts in the indictment. Any sentence will be imposed under the United States Sentencing Guidelines according to the nature of the offense and the criminal background, if any, of the defendant. Mr. FRAZIER was arraigned on the indictment on May 15, 2003 before United States Magistrate Judge Wallace Capel, Jr., and was released on a $10,000 personal bond. The case was investigated by the Flint office of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service." 

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.