Local man pleads guilty to tax evasion

A Costa Mesa man pleaded guilty to mail fraud and tax evasion in U.S. District Court Thursday, officials said.

Jeffrie Lane Bryan , 54, a Qwest Communications contractor, stole more than $500,000 from a fiber optic construction company hired to install cables throughout California, according to the district attorney’s office.

Bryan allegedly took the money in the form of checks from the chief executive officer of the construction company, Fiberco. He hid the checks from Qwest Communications and sent them to a Colorado bank account, according to the district attorney’s office.

He then evaded taxes by asking the Fiberco executive to give him a 1099 tax form that “understated” the amount of money, according to the district attorney’s office.

Bryan, who was living in Atascadero, Calif. when he allegedly stole the money, is scheduled to appear for sentencing Nov. 13. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.