Back in February I reported on Mark Kaushansky, the Soviet emigre who admitted evading taxes. At the time, Fred Theiman, Mr. Kaushansky’s attorney, noted, “A lot of assumptions made by the government are perfectly rational, perfectly logical and perfectly wrong.” The IRS said otherwise, and it was up to the judge to decide.
In this case, Mr. Theiman was correct. At least Judge Maurice Cohill determined that the tax evasion was a lot less than the $5 million he had been accused of. The total ended up as $63,000. Mr. Kaushansky also admitted that he was guilty, telling AP, “I was given an opportunity to help hundreds of Russian scientists and their families in dire need…I think I did a lot of good, but in the process I made some mistakes. I admit to those mistakes. I am guilty.” Mr. Kaushansky will also have to pay a $20,000 fine.
Also accused in the scheme was Yevgeny Adamov. Mr. Adamov is the former Russian Energy Minister. Mr. Adamov was arrested in Switzerland in 2005. Although the US requested that he be extradited here, the Swiss government extradited Mr. Adamov to Russia. He’s accused in Russia of abuse of power and fraud. Judge Cohill believes he’ll never be back in the United States to answer those charges.
AP Story: Pravda, Houston Chronicle