WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court will decide if a Japanese couple can be deported because of their convictions resulting from a false tax return.
The justices will hear an appeal from Akio and Fusako Kawashima, who became permanent lawful residents in 1984. But he pleaded guilty to subscribing to a false statement on a federal tax return, and she pleaded guilty to aiding and assisting in preparing a false tax return statement.
Immigration officials want to deport them because the financial amount of the crime. Anything over $10,000 is considered an aggravated felony, and Kawashima said in his plea the government's tax loss was $245,126.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld their deportation, but the high court will review it.
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More background from the LA Times circa 1997
A Westlake couple who failed to report more than $1 million in taxable income from two restaurants they own admitted their guilt in Los Angeles District Court on Monday, U.S. Atty. Nora M. Manella announced.
Akio Kawashima 53, and Fusako Kawashima, 46, pleaded guilty to separate felony counts. Akio Kawashima admitted to making a false statement on a tax return for their restaurant, Cho Cho San, which has outlets in Thousand Oaks and Tarzana. His wife admitted to assisting her husband in preparing the false tax return for the tax year ending Oct. 31, 1991, said Steven Linick, assistant U.S. attorney.