Fresno Man Previously Convicted of Tax Fraud Indicted for Failing to Surrender to Serve His Sentence

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Leroy Donovan Combs, 75, of Fresno, charging him with failure to surrender for service of sentence, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents and trial testimony, Combs participated in a tax refund scheme claiming more than $33 million in false tax refunds. Following a three-week trial, Combs was convicted of one count of filing a false claim against the United States.

On March 7, 2016, Combs was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison. He was required to self‑surrender to begin serving that sentence on August 11, 2016, but failed to do so. On August 15, 2016, the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Combs.

This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Grant B. Rabenn and Henry Z. Carbajal III are prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Combs faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison to be served consecutive to the original sentence and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charge is an allegation; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.