Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
Siharath Panyanouvong, the former manager of a Lowell, Massachusetts temporary employment agency, was arrested and charged on Mar. 6 with aiding and assisting in the preparation and filing of a false tax return. Panyanouvong, 56, of Dunstable, was indicted by a federal grand jury and released on conditions after an initial appearance in federal court in Boston.
The case centers on allegations that Panyanouvong failed to report more than $3.5 million of Viscosity Inc.'s gross receipts to the Internal Revenue Service between approximately 2017 and 2019. Prosecutors allege this resulted in the company avoiding over $980,000 in federal income taxes.
According to charging documents, Panyanouvong often used the alias "Mike Pan" and cashed more than $4.5 million in customer checks during this period. Authorities say he used much of this cash for off-the-books payroll for Viscosity employees as well as personal payments.
If convicted, Panyanouvong faces up to three years in prison, up to one year of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston announced the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Saltzman is prosecuting the case.
Officials emphasized that all details contained in the charging documents are allegations at this stage. "The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."
