COLUMBUS - A United States District Court jury here today returned guilty verdicts against Eugene Everett Armold, age 54, of 8570 Fall Gold Court in Westerville convicting him on two counts of making false statements on income tax returns and not reporting more than $4 million in adjusted gross income for 1999 and 2000.

Gregory G. Lockhart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Cromwell A. Handy, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati, announced the verdict returned today before United States District Judge Algenon L. Marbley.

The trial began on February 23, 2004 and the jury convicted Armold on one count that he filed an amended income tax return on June 8, 2001, claiming that his adjusted gross income for 1999 was $450,932, when in fact his true income for the year was at least $2,400,000. The jury also convicted him on a second count which stated that, on October 17, 2001, Armold filed an income tax return for the calendar year 2000 reporting an adjusted gross income of $1,143,520 when he knew his adjusted gross income for the year was at least $3,200,000.

Gregory G. Lockhart commended the investigative efforts of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigative Division. "Prosecuting tax fraud is meticulous work and I want to recognize the dedication of the IRS in preparing for this trial and the subsequent conviction," Lockhart said.

Each count of tax fraud carries a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment and a fine of up to $100,000. Judge Marbley will set a date for sentencing.

For additional comment contact Fred Alverson, Public Affairs Officer at 614.469.5715. The Internet address for the homepage for the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio is www.usdoj.gov/usao/ohs.