HOUSTON – The former owner of SPORTS @ THE B.U.S. has been indicted on tax and bankruptcy fraud charges, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Todd Dixon will appear in court for a counsel determination hearing today at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter J. Bray.

A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment against Dixon Aug. 7, 2019, alleging three counts of filing false tax returns and one count of bankruptcy fraud.

The Indictment alleges from 2004 until 2011, Dixon operated the two sports bars - one located across from Minute Maid Park and the other near the Toyota Center and filed for business bankruptcy during the 2011 Astros baseball season.   After which, a local trustee was appointed to administer the business estate and to pay creditors, according to the charges. In 2013, Dixon also filed for personal bankruptcy. 

According to the charges, Dixon concealed approximately $170,000 from the trustee and creditors by taking cash from the businesses and using it for his personal use and benefit. Dixon allegedly filed personal income tax returns and did not report the true and accurate amount of income he earned from the businesses.

The indictment further alleges that in 2013, Dixon filed his personal 2010 and 2011 tax returns in which he falsely reported his total income for each year, thereby under reporting taxes owed to the IRS. Similarly, in 2013, Dixon under reported the amount of taxes he and his business partners owed to the IRS after causing the trustee to file a false partnership return that did not report approximately $207,326 in earnings.  

If convicted of filing a false tax return, he faces up to three years in prison, while a conviction for bankruptcy fraud carries a possible five-year-maximum term.

IRS-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Quincy L. Ollison is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.