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

Jan. 14, 2004

Myrtle Beach home builder charged with tax evasion

            The owner of a Myrtle Beach company that specializes in building luxury homes is being held at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center today after South Carolina Department of Revenue investigators charged him with income tax evasion.

            Guy Clayton Collins, 54, owner and president of Seacoast Communities, Inc., was charged with four counts of state income tax evasion after turning himself in to revenue department investigators and Horry County Sheriff’s Department deputies earlier today.

            Collins is accused of failing to report and pay state income taxes on almost $2 million in income earned from his business from 1998 – 2001. His tax liability is estimated at $76,333 for the years he is accused of failing to file state returns.

            Collins is facing up to 20 years in jail and fines of up to $40,000 if convicted of all the charges.

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