Seen a Rogue on the loose? Get in touch with our Roguemeister: JOHN SCHRAG jschrag@wweek.com (503) 243-2122 FAX: (503) 243-1115 As you've been scrambling to get those 1040s in the mail, somewhere in the Polynesian kingdom of Tonga, one former Portlander has probably been enjoying the tropical weather and thinking back to U.S. tax seasons of yore--back when he filed tax returns for his countrymen living in Oregon and allegedly bilked them in the deal. In an indictment filed April 13 by the U.S. Attorney's office, Sione Talikavili Kalamafoni ("John" to his pals) stands accused of the most taxing roguery. Between 1991 and 1995, according to the indictment, Kalamafoni prepared tax returns for a half-dozen members of the Tongan community in the Portland area. He allegedly inflated their incomes on their tax returns and then claimed more dependents on their behalf than they truly had. This combination made them eligible for refunds of several thousand dollars each. Then he got really cute. According to the indictment, Kalamafoni had his countrymen's refunds sent to his house, deposited them into his checking account and later used his fellow Tongans' Social Security numbers to file false returns for them without their consent. Kent Robinson, an assistant U.S. attorney for Oregon, says that the 52-year-old Kalamafoni split Portland for Tonga in 1996, and the United States has no extradition treaty with the island nation. It's unknown how much money Kalamafoni pocketed, but his actions could land him in the federal pokey for as long as 18 years, if he's ever crazy enough to try reentering this country. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Willamette Week | originally published April 19, 2000