LAS VEGAS - - A local couple was indicted today by the Federal Grand Jury on felony charges of filing false income tax returns, announced Daniel G. Bogden, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada.

RICHARD SHANE and ROSE SHANE, residents of Clark County, Nevada, were charged with Willfully Filing (joint) False Income Tax Returns for the calendar years 1996 and 1997. The Indictment alleges that RICHARD SHANE and ROSE SHANE reported on their joint individual income tax returns that their adjusted gross income for calendar years 1996 and 1997 was $36,461 and $43,204, respectively, when they knew they had received additional income from the sale of bonds during those years.

If convicted, RICHARD SHANE and ROSE SHANE face up to three years in prison and a fine of not more than $250,000 on each count. They were both summoned to appear in court for an initial appearance hearing and arraignment on Friday, April 16, 2004, at 8:30 a.m.

The public is reminded that an Indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case was investigated by Special Agents with IRS Criminal Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karyn Kenny.

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