FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
25 August 2008

Murrells Inlet man charged with tax evasion

A former Horry County timeshare salesman was arrested by South Carolina Department of Revenue investigators today on multiple charges of tax evasion.

Brenten Dean Fornal, 37, was charged with four counts of state income tax evasion from 2003 through 2006. He was released from the J. Reuben Long Detention Center this afternoon on a $40,000 personal recognizance bond.

Fornal, who worked for several timeshare sales and rental companies during that time, is accused of filing fraudulent W-4 Withholding Forms with his employers indicating little or no state tax should be withheld from his pay. He also is accused of failing to file state tax returns during that period and pay taxes owed of more than $13,272.

Fornal is facing up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $40,000 if convicted of the charges.

The Horry County Sheriff's Office assisted in Fornal's arrest.

###