Radio's Louie Free charged with failure to file income tax forms

CLEVELAND — Louis A. Wolk of Boardman, a self-employed radio talk show host using the name Louie B. Free, has been charged with failing to file federal income tax returns for 2004, 2005 and 2006.

Wolk is the host of the "Brainfood from the Heartland" program, which airs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday on WASN-AM 1500 in Youngstown.

In a filing Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney charged Wolk with three misdemeanor counts of failure to file tax returns after he allegedly failed to file after earning $74,150 in 2004, $46,810 in 2005 and $17,945 in 2006.

An “information” is a formal written accusation by a prosecutor that charges someone with a crime and can only be used if the defendant waives indictment by a grand jury.

Wolk and his lawyer, Debra Migdal, an Akron-based federal public defender, have signed a waiver of indictment. The filing of an information usually means the defendant is cooperating with authorities and agrees to be found guilty of the charges.

The case, which is assigned to U.S. Magistrate James S. Gallas, was investigated by the IRS and the FBI. No court dates have yet been announced. Wolk could not be reached for comment.

A U.S. Attorney news release from Tuesday incorrectly stated the charges.

For details, see Thursday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.