PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

July 21, 2005

Jim Letten, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, and Michael J. Nelson, Special Agent in Charge of the New Orleans Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, announced that AYMAN ASKAR and YOUSEF ASKAR were sentenced on Wednesday, July 20, 2005 by the Honorable Eldon E. Fallon relative to a one count indictment charging them with conspiracy to make false income tax returns in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. AYMAN ASKAR was sentenced to five (5) months incarceration, followed by seven (7) months of home confinement, three (3) years supervised release and a $100.00 special assessment. AYMAN ASKAR was also ordered to pay $101,721.00 in restitution for his offenses.

YOUSEF ASKAR was sentenced to five (5) months incarceration, followed by six (6) months of home confinement, three (3) years supervised release and a $100.00 special assessment. YOUSEF ASKAR was also ordered to pay $64,602.00 in restitution for his offenses.

This case was prosecuted by Department of Justice Attorney Barry Jonas and Assistant U. S. Attorney Irfan Saeed.