NEWS RELEASE

Eric Melgren, U.S. Attorney

Contact: Jim Cross
(316) 269-6481

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Topeka Office
444 Quincy
Topeka, Kansas 66683

Kansas City Office
500 State Avenue
Suite 360
Kansas City, Kansas 66101

Aug. 2, 2005

BANKRUPTCY LAWYER PLEADS GUILTY TO FAILING TO FILE INCOME TAX RETURN

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – United States Attorney Eric Melgren announced today that
Topeka bankruptcy attorney Michael Brunton has pleaded guilty to failure to file an income tax return. Brunton, 56, Topeka, entered a guilty plea Monday, Aug. 1, 2005, during an appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge David J. Waxse in Kansas City, Kan.

Brunton, who is a 1981 graduate of Washburn University School of Law and has maintained a solo practice in Topeka for approximately 24 years, said in his plea that he failed to file income tax returns for the years 1998, 1999 and 2000. During those years his gross annual income ranged from $315,818 to $362,338. He owed a total of $103,169 in taxes for the three years. Brunton also admitted in his plea that he had previously failed to file income tax returns during the 1980s. That violation was handled civilly by the Internal Revenue Service.

In his plea, Brunton admitted that he told investigators he failed to file income tax returns because he did not have enough money to pay the tax he owed. However, he completed construction of a new home in 1998 valued at $400,000.

He faces a maximum penalty of one year in federal prison and a fine up to $100,000. Sentencing is set for 1:30 p.m. Oct. 18, 2005. Melgren commended the work of the Internal Revenue Service, which investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask, who prosecuted.

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