A Merced truck driver was handed down a prison sentence on Monday for tax evasion on money he made by stealing grains from a Turlock company.
Manuel Villegas-Ybarra, 66, was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison for tax evasion.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Villegas-Ybarra pleaded guilty on Sept. 8, 2008, to failing to report as income money he earned on stolen grain. Villegas-Ybarra admitted that he had been stealing truck loads of grain from Turlock Commodities for the past several years.
In addition to the prison sentence, Villegas-Ybarra was ordered to pay $43,861 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
In handing down the sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Anthony Ishii chided Villegas-Ybarra for his failure to pay taxes.
“The government relies on everyone paying taxes so essential government services continue,” he said. “When you don’t pay your taxes, it is a problem for all of us.”
Manuel Villegas-Ybarra, 66, was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison for tax evasion.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Villegas-Ybarra pleaded guilty on Sept. 8, 2008, to failing to report as income money he earned on stolen grain. Villegas-Ybarra admitted that he had been stealing truck loads of grain from Turlock Commodities for the past several years.
In addition to the prison sentence, Villegas-Ybarra was ordered to pay $43,861 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
In handing down the sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Anthony Ishii chided Villegas-Ybarra for his failure to pay taxes.
“The government relies on everyone paying taxes so essential government services continue,” he said. “When you don’t pay your taxes, it is a problem for all of us.”
