NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Tom Leonard, president of the Stew Leonard's Dairy Store in Danbury, Conn., has been indicted for alleged federal tax violations similar to those that sent his father to prison in 1993.
Michael Armstrong, one of Leonard's attorneys, said in a prepared statement, "If Tom Leonard's father were not Stew Leonard, these untrue, irresponsible and unfair charges would not have been brought.
"We have no choice but to fight in court to ensure that the truth comes out. When it does, Tom will win."
Stew Leonard Sr. pleaded guilty in 1993 to conspiracy to defraud the federal government in the collection of $17.1 million in income taxes from the company's Norwalk, Conn., store. He is in the 42nd month of a 52-month sentence in a Pennsylvania prison
The charges against Tom Leonard stem from a federal grand jury investigation that began a year ago. At the time, Tom Leonard's attorney said his client would cooperate with authorities.