A Salinas, Calif. man who pleaded no contest to 11 counts of state income tax evasion may face up to 13 years in prison. Rogelio Silva, 58, the owner of farm equipment trucking firm Drop Deck Specialists Inc., pleaded no contest in late November 2005 to six counts of failing to file his personal state taxes and five counts of failing to file his corporation’s income tax returns, according to the Associated Press.
Deputy District Attorney Arnold Klein said Silva earned more than $1.3 million between 1998 and 2003 and owes more than $250,000 in unpaid tax, penalties and interest. Silva also will have to reimburse the state and the county for its cost of investigating and prosecuting the case, Klein said. The amount of restitution will be determined at the Friday, Jan. 13 sentencing, the AP reported.
