Local man fined for tax evasion A...

Local man fined for tax evasion

A Newport Coast man on Monday was sentenced to 15 months in prison

and ordered to pay nearly $500,000 in back taxes after pleading

guilty to tax evasion.

Michael Sanford Avnaim, 57, pleaded guilty to charges he

underreported his taxable income for 1998 and 1999, according to a U.

S. Department of Justice press release.

Avnaim is president and sole shareholder of South Coast Container,

Inc. in Fullerton.

A district court judge ordered Avnaim to pay a $10,000 fine and

nearly $500,000 in back taxes, according to the release.

He will start serving his sentence in federal prison starting Jan.

27.

Women rob Costa Mesa inn

Two women armed with a handgun robbed the La Quinta Motor Inn

Tuesday night, police said.

The two women entered the motel office, at 1515 South Coast Drive

in Costa Mesa at about 9:30 p.m., Costa Mesa Police Lt. Ron Smith

said.

The women, who covered their faces with bandanas, pointed a gun at

the clerk and demanded cash.

They fled on foot with about $200 cash, Smith said.