San Diego
A San Diego attorney pleaded guilty Monday to a sole felony count in a scheme to defraud the Internal Revenue Service, federal prosecutors said.
Michael Zadan, 43, pleaded guilty to submitting a false document to the IRS on behalf of client John F. Dziubala, Assistant U.S. Atty. S. Gay Hugo-Martinez said. Dziubala also pleaded guilty Monday to the same felony charge, Hugo-Martinez said.
During an audit of Dziubala’s 1982 federal income tax return, he and Zadan tried to persuade an auditor to accept a fraudulent $17,500 charitable deduction, Hugo-Martinez said.
Zadan is set for sentencing May 13. He could be sentenced to a maximum five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, Hugo-Martinez said.
Dziubala, who was sentenced immediately after pleading guilty, was put on three years’ probation, ordered to pay a $50,000 fine, told to pay his back taxes and directed to perform 120 days of community service, Hugo-Martinez said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
