FRESNO, CA – November 5, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment today, charging Brian Keith Cortez, 47, of Fresno, with evading the assessment of income taxes.
According to the indictment, Cortez was a real estate and mortgage broker who operated businesses in Fresno named Mortgage Express, Mortgage Express Inc., and Valley Investment Properties. Mortgage Express and Mortgage Express Inc. functioned as home mortgage brokers, providing, among other things, refinancing on mortgages and services for securing financing for home purchases. The indictment alleges that Cortez generated substantial income through these businesses, and that he evaded the assessment of his income taxes from the years of 2003 through 2006.
This case is the product of an extensive investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Cortez faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both, a period of supervised release, and restitution, along with the cost of prosecution. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
The charges are only allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
CONTACT:
Lauren Horwood Thursday
PHONE: (916) 554-2706
www.usdoj.gov/usao/cae
usacae.edcapress (at) usdoj (dot) gov
