Doctor Accused in Tax Fraud May Have Fled

Authorities on Friday said they searched for several days but could not find a former Valley doctor indicted on charges of tax fraud.

On Wednesday, a federal grand jury indicted David A. Chanany on three felony counts of filing false income tax returns for 1991, 1992 and 1993.

Officials said Chanany, 47, who is from the Mount Olympus neighborhood of Los Angeles, had operated the now-defunct medical clinic in Reseda called the West Valley Medical Group.

A native of the former Soviet Union, Chanany specialized in treating automobile accident victims, according to the office of Nora M. Manella, U.S. attorney for the central district of California.

The indictment followed an investigation into Chanany’s finances conducted by special agents with the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service.

“We believe that he fled the country during the investigation,” said Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney.

Agents, however, do not know the whereabouts of Chanany, Mrozek said.

The indictment alleges that Chanany “substantially underreported his income on federal tax returns,” Mrozek said. He would not say how much money Chanany allegedly owes.

“Contrary to popular belief, the IRS does protect people’s privacy,” Mrozek said. “We are limited by laws and by regulations from discussing confidential matters related to taxpayers.”

If convicted on all three counts, Chanany could face up to nine years in federal prison and $750,000 in fines, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.