Former Triad Industries manager pleads guilty to tax evasion charges

A former associate of a Wood River businessman sentenced to prison on tax evasion charges has just pleaded guilty to income tax evasion.

Jeffrey Heintz, 56, of Godfrey pleaded guilty today to one count of tax evasion for tax year 2003, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Illinois. Heintz paid "insufficient income taxes" on more than $1.5 million in 2003 and has agreed to pay $49,451 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service, the release states.

Heintz was business manager for Ricki Lee Jones's company Triad Industries, which had a contract with BP Amoco to clean up Wood River refinery property.

Jones pleaded guilty in January to evading income taxes in 2003. He also admitted to cheating BP Amoco North America.

U.S. District Judge Phil Gilbert sentenced Jones to 15 months in prison on July 30, but stayed the sentence until Oct. 22 so Jones could take care of health issues.

According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons website, Jones is serving his sentence at the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan., a medium security facility housing male inmates.

Heintz will be sentenced March 23, 2010. Maximum penalties include five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both, three years' supervised release and a $100 special assessment.