A San Ramon woman was arrested Sunday, May 19 on three counts of failing to file state income tax returns, according to the Franchise Tax Board (FTB).
Alice M. Ciaston, 53, was arrested without incident by officers from the San Ramon Police Department Sunday evening. She was booked on charges that she failed to file state income tax returns for the years 1997-1999. In those years, Ciaston was self-employed and doing business out of her home as "MaxWealth" and "Maxamaze." Ciaston advertised and sold anti-tax literature called "Hidden Power," and earned more than $200,000. She owes the state more than $8,000 in delinquent taxes.
FTB investigators say that Ciaston claimed she did not file because filing income tax is voluntary and she volunteered not to do it.
Ciaston is being held in the Contra Costa County Jail in Martinez in lieu of $60,000 bail. Arraignment is scheduled for May 20. If convicted, Ciaston could receive 3 years in state prison and $60,000 in fines.