Thread: Immigrant Businessman gets probation for false tax returns

Businessman gets probation for false tax returns

By Dana Littlefield
Friday, September 17, 2010 at 6:15 p.m.

SAN DIEGO — The former owner of a used-car business who underreported more than $1.8 million in sales taxes he collected was given five years’ probation Friday and ordered to pay the state what he owes.

Yousef Hoodneh, 61, who owned the now-closed Flamingo Motors in Miramar, pleaded guilty in March to charges including grand theft of personal property and filing a fraudulent tax return. Authorities said Hoodneh was a corporate officer of Flamingo Motors Inc. in Mira Mesa.

He faced up to four years in prison.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Roger Krauel granted probation, noting Hoodneh’s health problems and the $300,000 restitution he has paid so far. That amount will be subtracted from the more than $1,889,000 he was ordered to pay the state Board of Equalization.

If Hoodneh violates probation, he could be sent to prison for five years.

Hoodneh, who has been spent more than two years in county jail, was to be released Friday evening. A native of Iran , he was living and working in the United States legally but could be deported because of the felony convictions. His family lives in Canada.

[b]The judge noted that Hoodneh has a job waiting that will pay him $20,000 a month.

His lawyer, Paul Pfingst, declined to disclose what kind of job Hoodneh would be doing, saying only that he is a “successful entrepreneurâ€

[quote]The judge noted that Hoodneh has a job waiting that will pay him $20,000 a month.

His lawyer, Paul Pfingst, declined to disclose what kind of job Hoodneh would be doing, saying only that he is a “successful entrepreneurâ€

[quote="NoBueno"][quote]The judge noted that Hoodneh has a job waiting that will pay him $20,000 a month.

His lawyer, Paul Pfingst, declined to disclose what kind of job Hoodneh would be doing, saying only that he is a “successful entrepreneurâ€