San Francisco contractor pleads guilty to tax evasion

By Brigid Gaffikin, Bay City News Service

February 8, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) -- A San Francisco contractor pleaded guilty in federal court in San Francisco today to two counts of tax evasion after reportedly netting almost $74,000 in unpaid taxes in 1997 and 1999.

San Ho Low, the owner of Sam's Construction and Remodeling Company, entered a guilty plea before William H. Alsup and could face up to five years in prison, a fine of $250,000 and three years of supervised release for each charge, according to U.S. attorney's spokesman Luke Macaulay.

Low pleaded guilty to not paying federal taxes to the value of $73,954.

Special agents with the Internal Revenue Service investigated Low for six months, according to Macaulay.

Low admitted to asking clients to pay him in cash or by writing checks to Sam Low or Frank and Sam's Construction, according to his plea agreement.

Low stated in the agreement that he did not deposit the money he received from his clients in his business banking account. He additionally admitted to providing the person who prepared his income tax statements with only his business bank account statements, according to Macaulay.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph A. Fazioli.

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