ERIE — Brian Gustafson of Smethport is seeking a 17th continuance in his federal tax evasion case in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
In a motion filed Monday, Gustafson’s attorney, D. Robert Marion Jr., sought the postponement because plea negotiations are underway, he wrote in the motion for extension of time. He asked for an additional 60 days to file pretrial motions.
The motion noted that the prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Trabold, did not object. The judge in the case had not ruled on the matter as of Tuesday afternoon.
The case was filed in 2020, charging Gustafson, 51, with tax evasion, filing a false income tax return and obstruction of IRS laws.
The indictment alleged Gustafson opened a bank account without disclosing it to the IRS or bankruptcy court, filed a false form to the IRS about his assets and financial conditions, lied to the IRS about his use of the hidden account and made “significant cash withdrawals” from the account.
Gustafson at one time was a member of Smethport Borough Council, a police officer within Smethport Borough, owner of the allegedly now defunct Priority Care Ambulance, and other businesses in the Smethport area.
