11-15-04 -- Avila, Rene -- Sentencing -- News Release

Hudson County Newspaper Publisher Sentenced to 12 Months for Tax Evasion

NEWARK - Rene Avila, publisher of the weekly Spanish-language newspaper Avance, was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison for tax evasion, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

The sentence was handed down in federal court in Newark by U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden. In sentencing Avila, Hayden noted that Avila’s failure to pay required income taxes spanned several years. As part of his plea agreement, Avila also agreed to pay all taxes owed, which totals approximately $147,937.

Judge Hayden did not assign a specific date for Avila’s surrender to begin serving his sentence. Typically, the surrender would occur in approximately 30 days.

Avila, 63, pleaded guilty to the charges on Sept. 23, 2003, admitting that he failed to pay taxes on income attributable to his newspaper, Avance. Specifically, Avila admitted that he concealed income earned in connection with Avance by cashing business receipts at a check-cashing establishment instead of depositing the funds into Avance’s business accounts.

At the sentencing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Boxer stated that Avila filed tax returns in which he failed to declare more than $400,000 that he had received in connection with Avance.

Avance is a weekly Spanish-language newspaper distributed primarily in Hudson County. Avila is a resident of Union City and resides on a periodic basis in Miami.

Christie gave particular credit to Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation section, under the direction of Patricia J. Haynes, Special Agent in Charge, for their handling of the case.

The Government is represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carlos F. Ortiz and Matthew Boxer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

-end-

Defense attorney:

Howard B. Brownstein, Esq., Union City