Internal Revenue Service

Jan 28 2013

Embezzled tens of thousands of dollars

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—A former head of one of the nation’s largest union locals was convicted today of federal charges of embezzling tens of thousands of dollars from the Los Angeles-based labor organization.

A Los Angeles federal jury deliberated for three days before finding Tyrone R. Freeman, 43, guilty of mail fraud, embezzlement and/or theft of labor union assets, false statements and tax fraud charges, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Oct 25 2011

Lemus Medical Center

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—The owner-operator of a Commerce medical clinic was sentenced to one month behind bars, followed by nine months under home detention, for failing to report to the Internal Revenue Service nearly $90,000 he received as income, prosecutors said today.

Dr. James Lemus, 58, of Shadow Hills was also ordered Monday to pay a fine of $15,000, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Williams.

Oct 24 2011

Funneled more than $300,000 in cash

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—A Montebello attorney and onetime court commissioner who “structured” cash transactions at banks to avoid having the deposits reported to federal authorities and escape having to pay income taxes was sentenced today to one year in federal prison.

Anthony Luna, 72, was also ordered to serve six months of home detention following his release from prison, pay a $40,000 fine, perform 50 hours of community service, and pay all back taxes due to the Internal Revenue Service, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Mar 21 2011

Peter Kallas

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—A senior attorney with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement received a 212-month prison term today for taking nearly $500,000 in bribes from immigrants who were promised benefits allowing them to remain in the United States.

ICE Assistant Chief Counsel Constantine Peter Kallas, 40, of Alta Loma, was also ordered to pay $296,865 in restitution for fraudulently receiving workers' compensation benefits, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Feb 4 2011

United Way of Greater Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—A group headed by the United Way of Greater Los Angeles began a campaign to spread the word that qualified low- and moderate-income families are eligible for a tax credit of up to $5,666 on their 2010 federal income taxes.

The Earned Income Tax Credit "is a vastly under-utilized benefit, with up to 20 percent of eligible taxpayers leaving $250 million in credits on the table," said Elise Buik, president and chief executive of United Way of Greater Los Angeles.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.
 

Alabama
Freeman A. Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will address the annual African American Business Council luncheon on June 28. Hrabowski, who is chairman of President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission on Education Excellence for African Americans, has a national reputation for his work studying the performance of minority students in math and science. Hrabowski, named one of the 10 best college presidents in the country by Time magazine, was a child leader in the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham in the 1960s.
 

Arkansas
The Liberty Counsel filed a motion and a brief in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas seeking to intervene on behalf of a Concepts of Life crisis pregnancy center to defend against a suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Reproductive Rights. The groups seek to impose a permanent injunction before the Human Heartbeat Protection Act goes into effect July 18. Liberty Counsel also filed a brief opposing the ACLU’s request for an injunction. The “Heartbeat” bill states that when a woman seeks an abortion at or after the 12th week, doctors must test for a fetal heartbeat before an abortion is performed and inform the pregnant mother that the child in her womb has a heartbeat. If a heartbeat is detected, a woman cannot have an abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, and if a mother’s life is in danger. “As we promised when the legislation was introduced, Liberty Counsel will defend this law without reservation for the people of Arkansas, born and pre-born,” said Matt Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. “No right is more foundational than the right to life. Without life, all other rights are irrelevant,” concluded Staver.