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St. Helena man indicted for fraud
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CommentRobert P. Peebles of St. Helena has been indicted for fraud by federal prosecutors for failing to report to tax officials that he’d transferred $4 million from his aunt’s trust to another trust in his own name.
Peebles was arraigned this week in Connecticut on charges of violating Internal Revenue Service laws, making false statements under oath to IRS investigators, and mail fraud. He was released on bond after his bail was set at $100,000.
Peebles was arraigned this week in Connecticut on charges of violating Internal Revenue Service laws, making false statements under oath to IRS investigators, and mail fraud. He was released on bond after his bail was set at $100,000.
Peebles is accused of failing to report that he received $4 million through an annuity agreement from the estate of his aunt, Charlotte Peebles of Connecticut.
Peebles would not comment, citing advice from his attorney.
Peebles would not comment, citing advice from his attorney.
Peebles was the trustee of his aunt’s $5 million trust. In September 2000, six months before his aunt’s death at the age of 96, prosecutors say Peebles set up a private annuity with another trust created in his own name. Under the annuity agreement, about $4 million would be transferred from his aunt’s trust to his own trust, to be paid back in annual payments.
According to prosecutors, Peebles fired his attorney after he told Peebles he would have to report the transfer and annuity on the estate’s tax returns to the federal government and the state of Connecticut.
According to prosecutors, Peebles fired his attorney after he told Peebles he would have to report the transfer and annuity on the estate’s tax returns to the federal government and the state of Connecticut.
Prosecutors say Peebles then hired two accountants to prepare the tax returns for the money remaining in his aunt’s trust without telling them about the annuity.
Court documents indicate that when IRS officials questioned Peebles under oath in February 2004, he claimed that the accountants never asked him about the annuity, and called its omission from tax filings an “oversight.”
Peebles is not related to Robert Peebles Jr., the Register photo correspondent who lives in Napa, or his fater, Robert Peebles Sr., also of Napa.
Court documents indicate that when IRS officials questioned Peebles under oath in February 2004, he claimed that the accountants never asked him about the annuity, and called its omission from tax filings an “oversight.”
Peebles is not related to Robert Peebles Jr., the Register photo correspondent who lives in Napa, or his fater, Robert Peebles Sr., also of Napa.
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barefoot wrote on Sep 7, 2008 7:15 PM:
mominapa wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:19 AM:
jmo wrote on Sep 8, 2008 2:25 PM: