Couple Indicted in Alleged Tax Evasion

A federal grand jury handed down indictments against a Chatsworth couple for allegedly failing to pay taxes on money believed to be proceeds from an international heroin distribution ring, officials said Friday.

Solomon Tekle, 46, and Lily Tekle, 38, were charged Thursday with tax evasion and filing false tax returns, adding to charges filed earlier this month.

Officials said the couple understated their income by more than $1 million on 1993and 1995 federal tax returns.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Michael Bullotta said arraignments for the couple on the new charges have not yet been scheduled. Both have been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center downtown since March.

The grand jury had originally handed down indictments on April 2 on several counts of drug trafficking and financial wrongdoings.

Now, Solomon Tekle faces three drug counts, including conspiracy to import and distribute heroin, as well three counts of unlawful cash payment structuring, three counts of tax evasion and two counts of signing a false tax return.

Each drug count carries a life sentence, Bullotta said.

Lily Tekle was not indicted on drug charges, but faces up to 51 years in federal prison for her alleged role in the financial part of the drug ring.

Bullotta said that Solomon Tekle arranged for the importation of heroin from Bangkok, Thailand, using couriers through various international airports. He allegedly distributed the drugs in Chicago.

The financial structuring counts involve cash transactions made in such a way as to avoid a law that requires banks to report cash transactions of more than $10,000 to federal authorities.

Bullotta said an example of this was three cash deposits in the amount of $9,000 each made to the couple’s personal accounts on the same day.