USAO Home Page

BUILDING COMPANY OWNER NAMED IN 5-COUNT INDICTMENT FOR TAX EVASION

United States Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan announced today, January 16, 2007, that James C. Platts has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of tax evasion.

The five-count indictment named Platts as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment, Platts submitted a false and fraudulent individual income tax return for the calendar year 1999 which substantially under reported his income and resulting tax liability. Also, the indictment charges that Platts attempted to evade the payment of federal income taxes and FICA taxes withheld from employees of his company, Pinnacle Building Company, during the years 1998 and 1999.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 5 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both on each count. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

The Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

# # #