Lawfuel – April 9, 2008 (NEW YORK, NY) — UJA-Federation of New York’s Mental-Health Professionals Division held its annual reception on Tuesday, April 8, 2008, honoring Charlotte Moses Fischman, president of the National Alliance on Mental Illness of New York City, Inc., with the Mortimer J. Blumenthal Memorial Award at UJA-Federation, 130 East 59th Street in New York City, at 7:00 p.m. The event included guest speaker Wendy Brennan, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness of New York City, Inc., and Dr. Kenneth Davis, president and chief executive officer of Mount Sinai Medical Center, who presented the award to Fischman. Dr. Samuel Klagsbrun, executive medical director of Four Winds Hospital, is chair of UJA-Federation’s Mental-Health Professionals Division.

Fischman, general counsel of the law firm Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP, is a leading mental-health advocate serving as volunteer president of the National Alliance on Mental Illness of New York City, Inc. NAMI-NYC Metro provides support, education, and advocacy for the families and friends of mental-health consumers, including support groups, a volunteer helpline, citywide educational programs and conferences, and outreach to the city’s underserved communities. Fischman’s efforts as president of NAMI-NYC Metro have enabled the organization to advocate for the passage of Timothy’s Law, which prohibits insurance companies from limiting coverage due to a mental illness.

In addition to her accomplishments in the mental-health community, Charlotte has served as special counsel to the Departmental Disciplinary Committee. Fischman has also served as a board member for such organizations as the New York Community Trust, The New York City Bar Association, and the Legal Aid Society.

About UJA-Federation of New York

The world’s largest local philanthropy, UJA-Federation of New York strengthens community and helps 1.4 million people in New York City, Westchester County, and Long Island, as well as 3 million in Israel and 60 other countries. Funds raised by UJA-Federation sustain the activities of more than 100 health, human-service, educational, and community agencies. Every day, these community-based organizations provide a multitude of services that improve and enhance people’s lives.

Lawfuel – Troy A. Eid, United States Attorney for the District of Colorado, and Terry L. Stuart, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation Division, announced today that a federal grand jury in Denver, Colorado returned an indictment charging MICHAEL P. EWING, age 55, of Aurora, Colorado, with tax evasion and mail fraud.

According to the indictment, EWING was an employee of Graebel, a moving and storage company. From 1993 through 2005, EWING engaged in a pattern and practice of submitting to Graebel false, fraudulent, and fictitious check requests and expense reports. As part of the affirmative acts of the evasion, EWING allegedly made false, fictitious, and fraudulent representations on check requests and expense reports, he forged signatures of Graebel executives, managers, and employees on check requests, and he prepared and submitted false, fraudulent, and fictitious documents in support of check requests and expense reports.

The indictment alleges that EWING received by fraudulent pretenses more than $25,000 a year for the years of 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005. In addition, EWING prepared and filed his personal income tax returns, omitting disclosure of the money he received from Graebel.

Counts one through five allege tax evasion, which carries a penalty of not more than 5 years in federal prison, and up to a $100,000 fine, per count.

Counts six through twenty three allege mail fraud, which carries a penalty of not more than 20 years imprisonment, and up to a $100,000 fine, per count.

“There are severe criminal penalties for people who fraudulently obtain money and then attempt to evade their income taxes,” said U.S. Attorney Troy Eid.

“All income, regardless of the source, is fully taxable and the taxpayer is ultimately responsible for their tax liability,” said Terry L. Stuart, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS-Criminal Investigation, Denver Field Office.

The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division (IRS CID).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Haried.

The charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.