TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The former mayor of Port Richey has pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the government by hiding money from the Internal Revenue Service.
Court officials say Richard Rober and his wife, Averill, pleaded guilty Thursday at the federal courthouse in Tampa. In a hearing before U.S. Magistrate Thomas McCoun the couple acknowledged the facts outlined in a criminal complaint against them are true.
The Tampa Bay Times (http://bit.ly/K5b1c6 ) reports the Robers diverted more than $239,000 from the water testing and treatment company they used to own into another account at SunTrust Bank.
The scheme came to light during a 2009 lawsuit brought against them by Florida Utility Group, which bought the property from them. Authorities say they used the money on family finances, a Hummer and boat repairs.
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Information from: Tampa Bay (Fla.)Times, http://tampabay.com
Source: AP
