Three more Northwest pilots accused of tax violations



Posted: Saturday, March 30, 2002






MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Three more Northwest Airlines pilots have been charged with evading Minnesota income taxes by claiming they live in other states, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office said Friday.
Four other Northwest pilots were similarly charged three weeks ago.
Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar said the pilots owned homes in Minnesota but claimed to live in states that do not have an income tax. Minnesota lost more than $150,000 in tax revenue because of the alleged fraud, she said.
Klobuchar said the pilots "knowingly and deliberately" avoided paying Minnesota taxes. More defendants were expected to be charged pending further investigation, she said.
The pilots charged Friday are: Stephen Laurenzano, 46, of Apple Valley; Gregory Cardis, 45, of Prior Lake; and Rodney Mattmiller, 45, of Hastings. All were charged with multiple felony counts. Among the charges were tax evasion, failure to pay motor vehicle tax and filing false and fraudulent returns.
Bruce Hanley, an attorney for Mattmiller and Cardiss, said the two men never tried to evade tax payments and relied upon accountants to comply with tax laws. "They would never knowingly or intentionally attempt to violate the tax laws of the state," Hanley said.
He also questioned why the state didn't take issue with the mens' filings or audit them before the county proceeded to file criminal charges.