A Hermosa Beach man was sentenced today for one count of failing to file a state income tax return, according to the Franchise Tax Board (FTB).
Richard E. Gonzales, 46, who works in Torrance, was sentenced to 180 days in jail after pleading guilty to failing to file a state income tax return for 1998. In that year, Gonzales, worked for various employment agencies as a contract engineer, earning a salary of $95,000. Gonzales owes the state more than $15,000 in delinquent taxes.
Investigators say that Gonzales claimed he did not file because he knew he would owe money and could not afford to pay it, and instead he took a vacation to Hawaii.
In addition to jail time, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Thomas Sokoloff ordered Gonzales to pay the Franchise Tax Board more than $36,000 in delinquent state income taxes, penalties, interest, and cost of the investigation.
Deputy District Attorney Nikola Mikullcich of the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office prosecuted the case.