Family pleads guilty to tax offenses
By: North County Times | ∞
SAN DIEGO ---- A former Vista resident, his wife and daughter have pleaded guilty to federal criminal tax offenses involving millions of dollars made from selling magazine subscriptions.
Lonnie R. Divine; his wife, Yvonne, 45; and daughter, Deanna McKinnon, 39, entered their pleas Monday in U.S. District Court in San Diego.
Judge Barry Ted Moskowitz set sentencing for March 9. Maximum penalties range from a year in prison and a $100,000 fine to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each charge.
Prosecutors said Lonnie Divine admitted he owned and operated a business under many company names between 1993 and 1997, but it primarily involved selling magazine subscriptions door to door for more than $11 million.
Divine evaded taxes by transferring money through several bank accounts, making payments of about $1.8 million to his Nevada casino accounts in Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe, acquiring assets and investing funds, among other ways, according to U.S. Attorney Carol Lam.
Yvonne Divine and Deanna McKinnon pleaded guilty to one count each of failing to file tax returns while earning income from the business.
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