March 23, 2010

RESTAURANT OWNERS PLEAD GUILTY TO TAX CHARGES

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – The owners of a chain of restaurants called Couzins Catfish Castle in Kansas City have pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion charges, U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch said today.

Dewayne Acklin, 46, Kansas City, Mo., and his wife, Lisa Lynch Acklin, 50, Kansas City, Mo, pleaded guilty to four counts of filing false tax returns. An indictment filed last year alleged the Acklins’ federal tax returns for 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 filed electronically in Kansas understated gross business receipts from their restaurants. The indictment alleged:

In 2006, the Acklins reported gross business receipts of $193,785 when in fact the gross receipts were approximately $1.1 million.
In 2005, the Acklins reported $144,083 in gross receipts when in fact the gross receipts were approximately $940,000.
In 2004, the Acklins reported $215,596 in gross receipts when in fact the receipts were approximately $823,000.
In 2003, the Acklins reported $193,718 in gross receipts when in fact the receipts were approximately $465,000.

Sentencing is set for June 15, 2010. They face a maximum penalty of 3 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. Welch commended the Internal Revenue Service and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley for their work on the case.