Press Release
TWO CHARGED WITH $1.9 MILLION TAX FRAUD
October 06, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Michael E. Yasofsky, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations ("IRS"), announced that defendants Omar Mohd Oweis and Anisa Oweis were indicted on tax fraud charges in connection with American Fire Sprinkler Systems, Inc. (“AFSSI”), a company based in Miami, Florida, that has installed sprinkler systems in buildings throughout South Florida. The Indictment charges both defendants with conspiracy to defraud the United States, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, and charges Omar Oweis with two counts of filing false tax returns, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206. The Indictment was returned on September 30, 2008; both defendants are scheduled for arraignment at 10 AM on October 17, 2008.
According to the Indictment, defendant Anisa Oweis, AFSSI’s office manager, directed employees to alter or destroy invoices to conceal approximately $1.9 million in income that AFSSI received from customers. From 2001 through 2003, the defendants allegedly set aside checks related to these altered invoices and cashed them at near-by establishments. This cash was not reported as income on AFSSI’s corporate returns or on Omar Oweis’ individual tax returns in 2003 and 2004.
Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the IRS. This matter is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew K. Levi.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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