Ex-Diesel Station Owner Convicted of Gas Tax Evasion
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The former owner of a Ventura diesel fuel station was convicted in federal court Wednesday of failing to pay $32,000 in gasoline taxes, officials said.
Donald R. Looman, 59, was found guilty of one count of tax evasion after a weeklong jury trial in Los Angeles, said Assistant U.S. Atty. William W. Carter. The jury acquitted Looman of two similar charges and deadlocked on a fourth.
Looman, a Santa Maria resident, is the former president and owner of Tri-Counties Gascard Inc., which operated automated diesel fueling stations in Ventura and Santa Ynez counties, Carter said.
Looman failed to report on quarterly IRS returns the taxes he owed on sales at his Ventura station, Carter said. Federal law requires an excise tax be paid to the federal government of 20.1 cents per gallon. The taxes go to the federal Highway Trust Fund.
The charge the jury deadlocked on and the charges of which Looman was acquitted stem from some $97,000 in disputed taxes, Carter said.
Looman, who is not in custody, is set to be sentenced Aug. 10.
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