LOS ANGELES — A Santa Monica man is currently facing federal fraud charges for allegedly filing tax returns that included fake donations to charity.
“The indictment was in response to an audit he submitted with a false charitable donation letter,” said Alka Sagar, assistant United States attorney.
51-year-old Howard Hal Berger was arrested on Friday morning because he falsely reported $1 million in gifts to charity in a 2006 federal tax return.
Federal officials said Berger filed a partnership income tax return for Lab Holdings, LLC and claimed the $1 million deduction, substantially reducing his income tax liability. Additionally, he filed an individual tax return for 2006 in which he falsely reported gifts to charity of $991,700, officials said.
While being audited, Berger allegedly submitted a false charitable donation letter in an attempt to support his deductions.
Berger plead not guilty last week. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum of nine years in federal prison and $750,000 in fines, officials said.
Berger is currently free on bail.
A trial is scheduled for Aug. 9, 2011, when Berger will appear in the United States District Court before Judge John F. Walter.