RENO - - A self-employed carpenter in Reno, Nevada, pleaded guilty today to the felony offense of attempting to interfere with the administration of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) laws, announced Daniel G. Bogden, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada and Eileen J. O'Connor, United States Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice Tax Division.

RONALD C. KRINER, age 60, of Reno, has admitted in his Plea Memorandum that on or about September 8, 1998, and January 15, 1999, he obstructed the due administration of the federal tax laws by submitting two fictitious "sight drafts" to the IRS Service Center in Ogden, Utah. The fictitious "Sight Drafts", in the amounts of $750,000 and $14,250,000, respectively, appeared to be an actual security or other financial instrument issued under the authority of the United States, and the "sight drafts" were signed by the defendant, purportedly on behalf of the United States. In submitting the fictitious sight drafts, RONALD KRINER endeavored to obstruct or impede the administration of the tax code because he did not owe such tax liability to the IRS, and his acts prevented the IRS from determining his true tax liability.

If convicted, KRINER is facing up to three years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be dictated by the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of factors, and will be imposed at the discretion of the Court.

KRINER, who had been detained since November 5, 2003, was released on bond pending sentencing, which is set before U.S. District Judge Howard D. McKibben at 9:00 a.m. on February 20, 2004.

The case is being investigated by Special Agents of IRS Criminal Investigation in Nevada and prosecuted by Department of Justice Tax Division Trial Attorneys Mark T. Odulio and Nicholas D. Dickinson.

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