Las Vegas, Nev. – Louis Eppolito, author of the paperback book, "Mafia Cop," pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to one count of making and filing a false income tax return, announced Gregory A. Brower, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada. Eppolito and his wife, Frances Eppolito, were indicted in January 2005.

"Making a false tax declaration in an effort to avoid paying federal income tax is a serious offense," said U.S. Attorney Brower. "The U.S. Attorney's Office will pursue criminal charges against individuals who intentionally defraud the United States."

According to the plea agreement, on about April 13, 2001, Louis Eppolito and Frances Eppolito filed an individual income tax return for the calendar year 2000 reporting total income of $127,386.00, when they knew their true income for that year was $327,386.00. Additionally, Louis Eppolito failed to declare $130,000.00 in income in 2001 and $45,000.00 in income in 2002. The resulting tax loss to the IRS because of these omissions was $102,108.00. The Indictment notes that the unreported income was from screenplay writing.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, the Government is to recommend that Louis Eppolito's sentence run concurrently with the sentence or period of imprisonment that he has received as a result of the charges pending against him in the Eastern District of New York. The guilty plea is also contingent on Frances Eppolito entering a pretrial diversion agreement with the United States on her pending tax charges after the conclusion of Louis Eppolito's sentencing.

Louis Eppolito is in federal custody. His sentencing is scheduled for May 9, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Roger L. Hunt. The maximum penalty for making and filing a false income tax return is not more than three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case is being investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Vasquez.

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