VENTURA : Insurance Agent Indicted in Tax Case

Thomas G. Roots, a Ventura insurance agent, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Los Angeles on three counts of tax evasion and one count of obstruction of tax collection activities, the U. S. attorney’s office said Monday.

According to the indictment, Roots, 54, filed fraudulent federal tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service for the years 1985 through 1987. The indictment was returned April 7 and unsealed Monday.

The indictment came after a yearlong investigation by special agents of the criminal investigation division of the IRS in Oxnard.

Roots reported taxable income of $1,084 and tax due of $533 for those years, the indictment said. It contends that he should have reported taxable income of $144,427 with tax due of $37,566.

Also, the indictment alleges that Roots asked a tenant of one of his rental properties to lie to the IRS about the amount of rent he paid to Roots.

Roots was arrested at his Ventura residence Monday and appeared at a bail hearing in Los Angeles before U. S. Magistrate Robert Stone. He was released on $275,000 bail.

If he is convicted, the maximum penalty under federal law for tax evasion and obstruction of justice violations are up to 18 years in prison and a $400,000 fine.

Roots’ arraignment was scheduled April 27. Neither he nor his lawyer could be reached for comment.