NEWS RELEASE

SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

Public Affairs Office           Phone (803) 898-5464

Contact: Danny Brazell          Fax  (803) 898-5446

                                       Email: brazeld@sctax.org

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aug. 27, 2003

Georgetown businessman charged with tax evasion

            A Georgetown home repair contractor arrested six years ago by South Carolina Department of Revenue investigators for failing to file tax returns was arrested again today on similar charges.

            Frederick Woodrow (Pete) Vey, Jr., 54, owner of Pete’s Building Maintenance & Restoration, remains in the Georgetown County Detention Center under a $60,000 surety bond following his arrest on three counts of state income tax evasion and two counts of failing to file South Carolina income tax returns.

Vey is accused of income tax evasion in 1998, 1999 and 2001 by submitting fraudulent W-4 income tax withholding forms to his employers to avoid having tax withheld from his wages. He also is accused of failing to file state income tax returns in 1997 and 2000. The Department of Revenue estimates Vey owes the state $9,074 in back taxes. Additional charges against Vey are pending.

            Vey was arrested by the Department of Revenue in Berkeley County in June 1997 on failure to file charges. Department of Revenue investigators considered Vey a tax protester at that time based on information submitted by him to the Department.

Besides his home remodeling business, Vey also worked as a salesman for several Georgetown County car dealers and sold cemetery plots.

            If convicted of the charges, Vey is facing up to 17 years in prison and fines of up to $50,000.

            The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Department assisted the Department of Revenue in Vey’s arrest.

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