COLUMBUS - Michael D. Clear, age 60, of Springfield, Ohio, was indicted today by a federal grand jury here in a one-count indictment charging him with tax evasion for the year 1996.

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 the indictment.

The indictment alleges that Clear attempted to evade his taxes by failing to file a tax return and by concealing and attempting to conceal his true income from the Internal Revenue Service through the use of cash, cashiers checks, nominees to cash the cashiers checks, and a warehouse bank.

The 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 attorney Rich Rolwing 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.