Brooks to plead guilty to tax evasion

David Brooks, the former body-armor manufacturer convicted last year of looting his then Westbury-based company of millions of dollars, plans to plead guilty to tax evasion charges Wednesday in federal court in Central Islip, according to court records and his attorney.

"It's time to move on to the issues that matter," Brooks' attorney, Gerald Shargel, said Tuesday.

He said Brooks is working on an appeal of his September conviction on 17 other charges that included conspiracy, insider trading, obstruction of justice, lying to auditors, and securities, mail and wire fraud. Prosecutors had charged that he stole $185 million from the former DHB Industries.

Brooks, 56, faces 30 years to life in prison on those charges. He now could get up to 11 years on the tax charges, but it's unlikely that would be added to his other time because of federal sentencing guidelines.

The three tax counts involve Brooks' alleged failure to pay about $3 million in taxes on about $10 million in income and bonuses he and company employees received in 2002, 2003, and 2004, according to charges brought by federal prosecutors.

The tax counts were severed from the other charges against Brooks to simplify his first trial, though it still lasted for eight months.

Assistant United States Attorney Richard Lunger declined to comment on the plea, which is scheduled Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert.

Brooks, who remains in custody, had gained some notoriety for his extravagant lifestyle, including using company funds to buy a $101,000 jewel-encrusted belt buckle designed after the American flag.