45 Count Indictment Charges Tax Violations By Local Businessmen

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Jerome Adrian, age 70, of Sioux Falls; Jared Adrian, age 45, of Sioux Falls; and Raymond Ehrman, age 76, of Freeman, appeared in federal court in Sioux Falls on July 20, 2012, before U.S. Magistrate Judge John E. Simko and pled not guilty to a 45-count indictment, charging the defendants as follows. Jerome Adrian is charged with one count of Conspiracy to Defraud the United States, 12 counts of Willful Failure to Collect or Pay Over Tax, 2 counts of Evasion of Payment, 5 counts of Tax Evasion, 4 counts of Willful Failure to File Tax Returns, and 1 count of False Tax Refund. Jared Adrian is charged with 15 counts of Willful Failure to Collect or Pay Over Tax and 5 counts of Willful Failure to File Tax Return. Raymond Ehrman is charged with one count of Conspiracy to Defraud the United States.

The charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The maximum penalty upon conviction for Willful Failure to File Tax Return is 1 year of imprisonment, a $25,000 fine, or both on each count. The maximum penalty for each of the remaining counts is 5 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both, together with costs of prosecution and restitution.

The investigation is being conducted by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Koliner is prosecuting the case. The defendants were released on bond pending further court proceedings.