Grant Co. businessman sentences for theft of $41,000 in taxes

OLYMPIA – March 1, 2016 – The owner of motorcycle shops in Moses Lake and Wenatchee was sentenced this morning in Grant County Superior Court for stealing more than $41,000 in sales tax.

Juan Manuel Ormaechea, owner of Desert Thunder Custom Cycles, was sentenced to six months jail time and to pay back the $41,024  in sales tax he admitted to stealing on transactions made by his businesses. The judge ruled that Mr. Ormaechea will be eligible for the work release program if he has a suitable job.

The sentence included punishment for continuing to illegally operate his Moses Lake location after the state had revoked his license. He closed the Wenatchee shop last June.

Mr. Ormaechea was charged last April with one count of first degree theft and two counts of filing false tax returns to evade reporting state taxes from his Wenatchee and Moses Lake shops. Those tax dollars would otherwise have been used by local and state agencies to provide public services.

The Washington State Department of Revenue (Revenue) discovered the falsified returns during an audit of Mr. Ormaechea’s corporation, Desert Oasis Investments. Based on records provided by his accountant, auditors discovered Mr. Ormeachea collected but did not turn over at least $41,024 in retail sales tax.

Ensuring a level playing field among Washington businesses helps promote a healthy economy for businesses and residents alike. Revenue investigates allegations of tax and business license fraud, pursuing cases in partnership with the state Attorney General and local prosecuting attorneys.

Check with the state before it’s too late! SuspectFraud.com allows people to check on a business’s license and registration in Washington, and to report possible fraud. Suspect Fraud is a service of the state departments of Labor & Industries, Employment Security, and Revenue.

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