FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2010

Charleston resident arrested for tax fraud

Charleston, SC…A Charleston man is being held at the Charleston County Detention Center following his arrest yesterday afternoon on charges of tax evasion. He is currently incarcerated at the South Carolina Department of Corrections facility in Ridgeland, SC on unrelated charges.

Michael Lorenzo Jones, 37, is being held a pending a bond hearing after South Carolina Department of Revenue investigators charged him with two felony counts of preparing a false return and two felony counts of forgery.

Jones is accused of presenting a fraudulent W-2 form for tax years 2004 and 2005 to file his Individual Income Tax returns. As a result--for 2004--Jones received $2,709.00 in refunds to which he was not entitled. Jones’ 2005 refund was held pending verification of W-2 income. This investigation is ongoing and additional charges are still pending.

He is facing up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000.00 if convicted of the charges.

The South Carolina Department of Corrections assisted in Jones’ arrest.

###