FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 19, 1997

Two real estate consultants arrested for tax evasion

The South Carolina Department of Revenue continues its scrutiny of bingo with the arrest today of a Surfside Beach man for falsifying bingo records.

Gregory L. Myers, 47, of 106 Santee River Road, Surfside Beach, was arrested by a Department of Revenue investigator and charged with three counts of filing a falsified bingo application.

Myers allegedly filed two bingo licenses for Army Navy Union Garrisons #1979 and #1894 containing names of supposed officers of the organizations. Following the agency's investigation, Myers admitted that the people listed as officers were recruited solely for the purpose of obtaining a bingo license.

Myers also has admitted forging a signature on a bingo license application.

Myers' sister-in-law, Mary G. Myers of Myrtle Beach, was arrested in July for notarizing that same bingo application which she knew to be false.

The Department of Revenue became suspicious of Myers' application during a routine pre-licensing interview conducted with all bingo license applicants.

If found guilty of the charges, Myers could be sentenced to 15 years in prison and be ordered to pay a $1,500 fine and the court costs.

Note: After being processed at the Surfside Beach Police Department, Gregory Myers was transported to the Surfside Beach Magistrate's Office for a bond hearing. As of 2:30 p.m. the hearing has not been held, but Myers was expected to be released on a personal recognizance bond.