January 24, 2006

            United States Attorney Mike Heavican and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division announce the following information for the attention of the media:

Event Triggering this Release: Mario Mandolfo, age 52, of Papillion, Nebraska, pled guilty on January 23, 2006, to one count of filing a false tax return, a felony, before the Honorable Lyle E. Strom, United States District Court Judge. The penalty for such offense includes a term of imprisonment of up to three years, a $250,000 fine, or both such fine and imprisonment, and a term of supervised release of up to three years.

During the period 1998 through 2000, Defendant Mario Mandolfo, as chief financial officer for several restaurant businesses, embezzled approximately $950,000 from said businesses. The defendant embezzled most of the funds by depositing rebate checks issued to a principal of the business into a savings account that the defendant controlled. Further, the defendant wrote checks to himself from various business accounts using a signature stamp bearing another’s name. The defendant failed to declare the embezzled funds as income on his filed tax returns resulting in a loss of approximately $325,000 in tax revenue.

Name of Defendant: Mario Mandolfo

AKA:

Age: 52

City of residence: Papillion, Nebraska

Crime(s) Charged and Potential Penalty: Filing a False Tax Return, up to three years imprisonment, $250,000 fine, or both such fine and imprisonment, and a term of supervised release of up to three years.

Specific Location of Alleged Crime: Nebraska

Location of Arrest: N/A

Alleged Dollar Loss/Type and Quantity of Drug: $325,000 in tax revenue

Others Charged in Same Scheme: N/A

Relevant Dates:

 

Date of Alleged Crime: August 17, 2000

 

Federal Arrest Date: N/A

 

Date Complaint Issued: N/A

 

Indictment Returned Date: Felony Information filed December 22, 2005

 

Initial Appearance Date: January 23, 2006

 

Plea or Trial and Date(s): Pled January 23, 2006

 

Sentencing Date: April 28, 2006

 

Next Court Hearing Type and Date: Sentencing

Assigned Magistrate Judge: Thomas D. Thalken

Held without Bond, or Released from Custody: Released on own recognizance

In Continuous Custody Since: N/A

Assigned District Court Judge: Lyle E. Strom

Initials of Assigned AUSA/Preparer of THIS Release: RXM