BIG LOTTERY WINNER SENTENCED FOR TAX FRAUD

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that Faegh Ansari-Jaberi, 57, was sentenced to three years in jail, with all but six months suspended, for failing to file his State tax returns between 2000 and 2002. Ansari-Jaberi will be allowed to serve his six-months on home detention due to an existing medical condition. Ansari-Jaberi, who lives on the 4600 block of Park Avenue in Chevy Chase, admitted to having received more than $158,000 in Lottery winnings between 2000 and 2002, none of which was reported by him to the Comptroller as required. In addition, he received a salary as a car salesman, disability payments and real estate commissions, totaling an additional $116,000 in unreported income.

The Honorable Judge Joseph Manck of the Anne Arundel Circuit Court also ordered Ansari-Jaberi to repay the state $18,164.00 in back taxes by February 1, 2006.

The case was investigated by the Attorney General’s Criminal Investigations Division and the Maryland State Police. It was first referred to the Attorney General’s CID by the Office of the Legislative Auditor and the Comptroller.

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