James Armand Coryea II, from Plymouth, was charged with three felony counts of tax evasion and three misdemeanor charges of failing to file tax returns.

According to the indictment, from 1997 through 1999, Coryea had taxable income between $50,000 and more than $90,000 each year.  During each of those years, Coryea allegedly failed to file federal income tax returns with the IRS.  Coryea allegedly owes over $80,000 in back taxes for that period.

When Coryea was interviewed by IRS agents in November 2001, he falsely claimed to have filed tax returns for 1997 through 1999 and allegedly provided the agents with copies of tax returns he claimed he had filed.  Those federal tax returns allegedly understated his income and overstated his expenses, according to the indictment.

The grand jury also alleged in the indictment that during calendar year 1997, Coryea had taxable income in excess of $90,000.  However, in an attempt to avoid depositing his payroll paychecks from Wheel-Air Charter into his bank accounts, through which his total income could have been more easily detected, Coryea used some of his paychecks to purchase more than $59,000 in cashier’s checks. Shortly after calendar year 1997, Coryea also allegedly provided the bookkeeper for Wheel-Air Charter with false and understated income figures for his 1997 earnings from the aircraft leasing company,  figures which were used by his employer to file Forms 1099 with the IRS.

If convicted, Coryea faces a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine on each of the three counts of tax evasion and up to one year in prison and/or a $100,000 fine on each of the three counts of failure to file tax returns.  Any sentence would be determined by a judge based on the federal sentencing guidelines.

The case is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mike Cheever.

Criminal indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.