SAN ANTONIO – A couple from Helotes was arrested this week on a slew of charges relating to defrauding a company, lying on tax returns and committing export violations, according to federal authorities.
A news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office states that Xiaojian Tao, 63, and Yu Lang, also known as Laura Long, 63, were arrested on Tuesday.
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They are accused of fraud in connection with their company, Tyletech, also known as Tylex Tech LLC and Tyle Tech, which provides engineering consulting services. They have owned the company since 1997.
Federal authorities said that from 1994 to March 2020, Tao worked for Tyletech’s competitor, the R&D Company.
“Although Tao certified that each year he would notify the R&D Company of any conflicts of interest and follow Standards of Conduct, Tao and Lang hid Tao’s role in Tyletech, instead funneling business from the R&D Company to Tyletech,” the release states.
As a result, they were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and nine counts of wire fraud.
The release adds that the couple was also charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and five counts of filing false tax returns after they lied on their income tax returns from 2010 to 2016.
Tao was also charged with one count of making a false statement and Lang was charged with two counts of making a false statement.
Tao also faces charges of the illegal export of defense articles, unlawful export of commerce-controlled goods, and making a false statement with regards to the Export Control Reform Act, authorities said.
In those instances, he allegedly exported items to China without the proper license from either the Department of State or the Department of Commerce, authorities said.
If convicted, they face anywhere from a maximum of three to 20 years in prison for each count.
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