Investigation reveals bunker on wanted couple’s Yelm property
Apr 17, 2014, 2:32 PM | Updated: Apr 20, 2014, 11:59 am
Radu Nemes and his wife, Diana, are accused of tax evasion in Romania. Federal agents served search warrants at their Yelm home and another property they owned and discovered an underground bunker and also seized nine firearms. (Image courtesy Department of Justice)
(Image courtesy Department of Justice)
An investigation into a Yelm couple wanted in Romania for crimes of tax evasion and support of an organized crime group has revealed an elaborate underground bunker.
Radu Nemes and his wife, Diana, are accused of selling about 999,000 tons of diesel fuel between May 2011 and July 2012 that they allegedly avoided paying about $72 million in taxes on by falsely documenting it as lesser-grade fuel.
According to court papers filed in the U.S. District Court in Tacoma, the couple has been criminally charged with tax evasion in Romania.
Federal agents served search warrants at their Yelm home and another property they owned in Yelm, where they were building a log home, and discovered an underground bunker. Photos taken at the bunker show an entry secured with steel doors and stockpiles of supplies.
“That bunker could have comfortably housed the entire family for months, if not years, given the supply of food found in storage in that structure,” court documents say.
Nine firearms were also seized from the couple’s Yelm home.
The couple was arrested March 18 and is being held in federal detention. Diana Nemes is attempting to fight the detention because she is pregnant.
The couple’s extradition hearing starts May 22.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
