Portola Valley man charged in federal case Portola Valley man charged in federal case (March 24, 2004)

Portola Valley resident David Jorgensen was indicted in federal court in Minnesota on March 10 on three counts of mail fraud and three counts of wire fraud involving interstate commerce in connection with an alleged failure to pay California taxes on several vehicles he bought out of state but later brought into California.

Mr. Jorgensen, who is now retired from his position as a director on the board of Minnesota-based copier-parts company Katun Corp., pleaded not guilty to the charges at his arraignment in the District of Minnesota on Friday, March 12, Mr. Jorgensen's attorney Bill Mauzy told the Almanac. A trial date has not yet been set, Mr. Mauzy said, adding that Mr. Jorgensen has already paid $22,000 in unpaid use taxes at issue in the case. Use taxes are similar to sales taxes but apply to out-of-state purchases of goods that are subsequently brought into California for use or consumption.

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