13-Year Fugitive Doctor Convicted For Federal Income Tax Fraud

HOUSTON – A former doctor who was a fugitive for more than 13 years has been convicted of filing a false income tax return, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Steven Louis Price pleaded guilty late yesterday after a lengthy hearing to making false statements on a federal income tax return.

Price became a fugitive when he failed to appear in court on this case on Dec. 16, 1999. He remained a fugitive until his surrender to the U.S. Marshals Service on March 20, 2013.

The investigation established Price willfully made materially false statements in his 1992 federal income tax return by understating gross income derived from his medical practice and falsely claiming entitlement to a married joint filing status. Price was never married. The Investigation further determined Price willfully understated Schedule C gross receipts derived from his medical practice on his federal income tax return by at least $98,315. Price received the majority of this income from attorneys and insurance companies paying worker’s compensation or automobile accident claims. In order to conceal this income, Price cashed many of the checks and used the proceeds to purchase cashier’s checks.

U.S. District Judge Nancy F. Atlas, who accepted the guilty plea, has set sentencing for Feb. 26, 2014. At that time, he faces up to 36 months in prison and a possible $100,000 fine. Price has been in custody since his surrender on March 20, 2013, where he will remain pending that hearing.

The investigation was conducted by Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Rodriguez.