N.B. business owner faces federal tax evasion charges

NEWARK - A North Brunswick man was arrested Tuesday on an indictment charging him with failing to file tax returns and filing false tax returns, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

The five-count indictment, returned April 12 under seal, charges Mazen Mokhtar, 38, with two counts of failing to file business tax returns and three counts of filing false personal tax returns. According to the indictment, Mokhtar was the president and sole shareholder of Mindcraft Inc., a computer consulting and technology company, for which he was required to file business tax returns.

The indictment alleges that for the tax years 2003 and 2004, Mokhtar failed to file Mindcraft's business tax returns. The indictment additionally alleges that for the tax years 2000, 2002 and 2003, Mokhtar filed fraudulent personal tax returns in that he failed to state the entire amount of income he received from Mindcraft.

Mokhtar was arrested at his home early that morning by special agents of the FBI and IRS.

The fraudulent personal tax return violations each carry a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a $100,000 fine. The charges of failing to file tax returns each carry a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.