Federal prosecutors yesterday charged a Topsfield, Mass., technology executive with tax evasion, filing a false tax return and bankruptcy fraud, the Boston Business Journal reported yesterday. Robert P. Bonefant Jr. allegedly used companies he owns or partially owns to hide income so he wouldn't have to pay the government back taxes he allegedly owed. The government says he hid more than $680,000 of income from 2009 through 2012. Bonefant also allegedly hid income during still-ongoing bankruptcy proceedings and hid his interest in the three companies — AVC Technology Systems, Signeo International and Signeo USA. Bonefant Jr. was charged via what is known as an “information” rather than indictment — often an indication a defendant plans to plead guilty. Bonefant's lawyer declined to comment. When asked in a bankruptcy deposition whether he planned to plead guilty to criminal charges, Bonefant invoked the fifth amendment in declining to answer.
