A Fresno man today pleaded no contest to five counts of state income tax evasion, according to the Franchise Tax Board (FTB).
Harry Moriaki Kuramoto, 63, who owns and operates a raisin farm in Selma, was arrested last year for failing to file state income tax returns from 1994-1998.
Investigators say Kuramoto failed to report more than $650,000 in gross farm income between 1994-1998 and owes the state nearly $15,000 in back taxes.
In a plea arrangement before Fresno County Superior Court Judge Alan M. Simpson, Kuramoto pleaded no contest to the felony tax charges and paid $23,997 in tax, penalties and interest, plus $15,000 for the cost of investigation. In December 2001, Kuramoto paid $12,000 when he filed his delinquent tax returns.
Charges against his wife, Kyoko, 52, who was also arrested last year, were dropped.
Maximum sentence is three years for each count. Sentencing has been set for September 10, 2002 at 8:30 a.m. in Dept. 30 of Fresno County Superior Court.
In 1992, FTB obtained a court order to seize a 28-acre parcel of real property owned by the Kuramotos for outstanding tax liabilities for 1985-1988. Mr. Kuramoto paid the $45,000 debt with a cashier's check.
The Fresno County District Attorney's Office prosecuted the case.