Thread: Houston taqueria owner pleads guilty in tax-fraud case

HOUSTON-AREA TAQUERIA ARANDAS RESTAURANT OWNERS CHARGED WITH FILING FALSE TAX RETURNS

(HOUSTON, Texas) – Eight Taqueria Arandas owners have been charged with filing false federal income tax returns that deprived the National Treasury of more than $4 million dollars in income and employment taxes, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today. Those charged include Pedro M. Villapando, Carlos Garcia, Chris Anthony Renaud, Francisco Javier Camarena, Guillermo Camarena, Rodolfo Camarena, Pablo Garza and Ramiro Camarena, all of Houston.

Villapando, who owned and operated Taqueria Arandas restaurants located at 1826 North Gessner and 364 Uvalde Road in Houston, Texas, was arrested on Thurs., Sept. 4. The indictment returned by a Houston grand jury under seal on Aug. 27, 2008 and unsealed following Villapando’s arrest and appearance before U. S. Magistrate Judge Stephen Wm. Smith last week, charged Villapando with filing 11 false federal income tax returns for these restaurants for tax years 2001 through 2006 that understated sales by $8,322,783 to avoid paying income taxes of $1,797,200. He is also accused of failing to pay $866,838 in employment taxes. Villapando has been ordered detained pending trial before United States District Lee H. Rosenthal. Each of the 11 counts carries a maximum of 3 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine upon conviction.

Seven other defendants, Carlos Garcia, Chris Anthony Renaud, Francisco Javier Camarena, Guillermo Camarena, Rodolfo Camarena, Pablo Garza and Ramiro Camarena, are charged separately by federal criminal Information filed with the court with one count each of filing a false federal income tax return for their respective Taqueria Arandas restaurants. The court will issue orders summoning the defendants to appear for arraignment on a date to be set in the near future. If convicted, each faces a maximum of three years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

Garcia owned and operated a Taqueria Arandas restaurant at 10403-A Gulf Freeway in Houston, Texas, during 2001. He is charged with filing a false federal income tax return for the restaurant for that year which understated sales by $949,302 to avoid paying taxes of $322,877.

Francisco Camarena owned and operated Taqueria Arandas restaurants located at 2701 Mangum and 13703 Hwy 249 in Houston, Texas, during 2001. He is charged with filing a false federal income tax return for one of the restaurants for 2001 which understated sales by $873,174 to avoid paying taxes of $292,033.

Guillermo Camarena owned and operated a Taqueria Arandas restaurant located at 6503 Airline Road in Houston, Texas, during 2001. He is charged with filing a false federal income tax return for the restaurant for that year which understated sales by approximately $817,391 and income taxes due by about $289,012.

Rodolfo Camarena owned and operated a Taqueria Arandas restaurant located on the North Freeway in Houston, Texas, during 2001. He is charged with filing a false federal income tax return for the restaurant for 2001 which understated sales by $715,918 to avoid paying taxes of $203,322.

Garza owned and operated a Taqueria Arandas restaurant located at 5931 Gulf Freeway in Houston, Texas, from 2001 through 2006. The criminal information alleges that between 2001 and 2006, Garza filed 22 false employment tax returns resulting in the underpayment of approximately $182,861 in federal employment taxes.

Renaud owned and operated a Taqueria Arandas restaurant at 4609 Irvington Boulevard in Houston, Texas, during 2001. He is charged with filing a false federal income tax return for the restaurant for that year which understated sales by $381,740 to avoid paying taxes of $130,503.

Ramiro Camarena owned and operated a Taqueria Arandas restaurant located at 1629 South Richey in Pasadena, Texas, during 2000. He is charged with filing four false federal income tax returns the restaurant for that year which substantially understated gross receipts to avoid paying taxes of $126,174.

The investigation leading to the charges was conducted by special agents of the Houston Office of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jimmy Sledge Jr.

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http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txs/releases/ ... randas.htm

Is a taqueria some sort of taco shop? Still trying to learn the new language of this country.

Originally Posted by vortex

Is a taqueria some sort of taco shop? Still trying to learn the new language of this country.

It's a Mexican resturant. They don't sell Tex-Mex, rather they sell crap that is much more familiar to those who just crossed our borders from other places.

This chain of cesspools hires 100's of illegals to work. The owners seem to violate every law there is to make money.

Here is a link to their web site which should give you an idea of what kind of crap they serve.

http://www.taqueriasarandas.com/

deprived the National Treasury of more than $4 million dollars in income and employment taxes,

This is ONE employer, imagine how many TRILLIONS are unpaid because of employing illegal aliens aka tax fraud!

This is ONE employer, imagine how many TRILLIONS are unpaid because of employing illegal aliens aka tax fraud!

Had the contractor here bragging about being able to retire early and all, but got caught before he left......millions owed as well. Now lets see, I'm sure there are those paying taxes, but I'm sure it's minimul ..... those operating businesses illegally, not paying taxes, those working under the table and then out and out tax fraud. Billions sent out of this country....seems like they've made a killing and reeked havoc with the rest.......oh ya.....we need em alright.

Can't wait until a taqueria franchise opens here in NC! Right now I am suffering with organic American-made tortilla chips and bean dip produced by Frito-Lay.

Originally Posted by bigtex

Originally Posted by vortex

Is a taqueria some sort of taco shop? Still trying to learn the new language of this country.

It's a Mexican resturant. They don't sell Tex-Mex, rather they sell crap that is much more familiar to those who just crossed our borders from other places.

This chain of cesspools hires 100's of illegals to work. The owners seem to violate every law there is to make money.

Here is a link to their web site which should give you an idea of what kind of crap they serve.

http://www.taqueriasarandas.com/

On the above website under the tab "our history"; leaves one to think they may be ILLEGALS.

http://www.taqueriasarandas.com/english/about_us.html

Español

Everyday Food for Everyday People

When Jose Camarena moved to Texas in 1981 with his wife Sylvia, he had a mission in mind. He wanted to buy a taco truck and sell his food on the street corners of Houston, much as he had done in Chicago for the previous two years.

Mr. Camarena was startled to discover that Houston had few, if any, of the taquerias that were so popular in Mexico and Chicago. There were plenty of Mexican restaurants here, but not the tiny businesses that sell tacos fast and cheap, authentic Mexican style.

Jose used what little money he had saved, and opened his first taqueria at 4609 Irvington calling it Taquerias Arandas, named for the closest town to Jose’s birthplace, the village of Jesus Maria, Mexico. The church he proudly displays on his menus is from his hometown. "We believe we are here because of God, and the picture is how we express our thanks.â€

Originally Posted by miguelina

deprived the National Treasury of more than $4 million dollars in income and employment taxes,

This is ONE employer, imagine how many TRILLIONS are unpaid because of employing illegal aliens aka tax fraud!

EXACTLY! There are literally 1000's of law care services in the Houston area and I know most of them pay NADDA is taxes. All of their business is done in cash. That goes the same for all the roofing and construction business run by illegals here.

This has been one fo the big arguments for these open border idiots. They claim these illegals are paying taxes. In fact many of they evade taxes and soak up as many social give aways as they possibly can. So the hardworing American tax payer puts out the money while the illegals pay nothing.

Originally Posted by lccat

On the above website under the tab "our history"; leaves one to think they may be ILLEGALS.

http://www.taqueriasarandas.com/english/about_us.html

Español

Everyday Food for Everyday People

When Jose Camarena moved to Texas in 1981 with his wife Sylvia, he had a mission in mind. He wanted to buy a taco truck and sell his food on the street corners of Houston, much as he had done in Chicago for the previous two years.

Jose used what little money he had saved, and opened his first taqueria at 4609 Irvington calling it Taquerias Arandas, named for the closest town to Jose’s birthplace, the village of Jesus Maria,

So this criminals, without much doubt, used money he made from not paying income tax and bought a resturant. No telling how much he got away with the the IRS couldn't prove.

Something that goes on every day here. I can't count the number of these truck I see on a daily basis. Not to mention all the ice cream and junk vendors on these bicycle carts. I know none of them are paying a dime of tax.