Default Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: ALAN SPROWLS (850) 942-8430

May 3, 2005

Tallahassee, Florida – Gregory R. Miller, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced today that 42-year-old Walid Abulaban and 45-year-old Nidal Qasem, both of Tallahassee, Florida, were each sentenced to three years’ probation, twelve months’ home confinement, and the imposition of a $50,000 fine in connection with the convictions on four counts of willfully subscribing to false tax returns for the 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 tax years, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(1).

Documents filed in connection with the defendants’ pleas reflect that between 1997 and 2000, Abulaban and Nidal Qasem maintained ownership interests in a series of convenience stores in the Tallahassee area. During the tax years in question, Abulaban and Qasem skimmed and directed store managers to skim cash profits from the stores. These profits were not deposited into the corporate bank accounts for the stores and were never reported to the IRS as income for Abulaban, Qasem, or the businesses. During the four years comprising the offense, Abulaban filed false tax returns in which he failed to report more than $290,000 in skimmed profit, resulting in a tax loss to the Government of $92,184. During the same four years, Qasem filed false tax returns in which he failed to report more than $290,000 in skimmed profit, resulting in a tax loss of $82,938.

Prior to sentencing, Abulaban made restitution to the IRS in the amount of $92,184, and Qasem paid the IRS restitution in the amount of $82,938.

Mr. Miller commended the dedicated efforts of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service, the Tallahassee Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, the State of Florida, Department of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this offense.

This case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Karen Rhew.



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	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: ALAN SPROWLS (850) 942-8430 May 3, 2005 Tallahassee, Florida – Gregory R. Miller, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced today that 42-year-old Walid Abulaban and 45-year-old Nidal Qasem, both of Tallahassee, Florida, were each sentenced to three years’ probation, twelve months’ home confinement, and the imposition of a $50,000 fine in connection with the convictions on four counts of willfully subscribing to false tax returns for the 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 tax years, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(1). Documents filed in connection with the defendants’ pleas reflect that between 1997 and 2000, Abulaban and Nidal Qasem maintained ownership interests in a series of convenience stores in the Tallahassee area. During the tax years in question, Abulaban and Qasem skimmed and directed store managers to skim cash profits from the stores. These profits were not deposited into the corporate bank accounts for the stores and were never reported to the IRS as income for Abulaban, Qasem, or the businesses. During the four years comprising the offense, Abulaban filed false tax returns in which he failed to report more than $290,000 in skimmed profit, resulting in a tax loss to the Government of $92,184. During the same four years, Qasem filed false tax returns in which he failed to report more than $290,000 in skimmed profit, resulting in a tax loss of $82,938. Prior to sentencing, Abulaban made restitution to the IRS in the amount of $92,184, and Qasem paid the IRS restitution in the amount of $82,938. Mr. Miller commended the dedicated efforts of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service, the Tallahassee Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, the State of Florida, Department of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this offense. This case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Karen Rhew.
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