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By Philip T. Hensley, Public Information Office, Indiana State Police Sellersburg District

A two-year investigation concluded Monday with the arrest of a male and female for their involvement in corrupt business practices and failing to pay taxes while operating businesses in Clarksville.

In February, 2023, Master Trooper Detective Tim Denby began an investigation based on a complaint filed against an individual residing in Clarksville who was allegedly creating Limited Liability Corporations (LLCs) in order for individuals not legally allowed to register their vehicles to buy, register, and title vehicles through the state of Indiana. The complainant alleged that 50-year-old Jony Zavala was charging individuals money to set up and provide the vehicle registrations. It was learned through the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office that Zavala had registered 29 LLCs over the last several years for what had appeared to be fake businesses.

As the investigation progressed, Detective Denby began working with investigators with the Indiana Department of Revenue in October, 2023. Investigators learned that Zavala and his wife, 40-year-old Maria Bonilla, were the organizers of at least nine LLCs within Indiana that they were principal members of. It was alleged that through the course of their proprietorship of those businesses, neither Zavala nor Bonilla had filed personal or business tax returns.

Search warrants were served at the residence of Zavala and Bonilla by State Police detectives and investigators with the Department of Revenue in May, 2024. Investigators were learning that business records were not being maintained for any of the nine LLCs that Zavala and Bonilla owned. At the same time, Department of Revenue investigators served Zavala and Bonilla with notices to produce business records for their businesses. Zavala and Bonilla failed to provide those records to the Department of Revenue.

In June, 2024, the Department of Revenue was provided with tax returns filed on behalf of Zavala and Bonilla for the years 2019 through 2023 that were filed after the search warrant was executed in May, 2024. The tax returns were filed for only two of the nine LLCs that Zavala and Bonilla own; the business records for the other seven LLCs remained undocumented. Additionally, it was learned that Zavala and Bonilla did not provide all bank statements when preparing business records and tax returns for the two LLCs they filed for, thus failing to declare all of their income.

On Monday, Zavala and Bonilla were arrested on warrants issued through the Clark County Circuit Court for charges including Racketeering, Theft, and Tax Evasion. They were lodged in the Clark County Jail.

The Indiana State Police continues will continue to investigate complaints involving individuals making money outside the tax and regulatory system by not reporting their tax obligations. The State Police and the Department of Revenue encourage all Indiana residents to register and operate their businesses lawfully.

Arrested and Charges:

Jony O. Zavala, 50, Clarksville, Indiana

Corrupt Business Enterprise (Racketeering), Level 5 Felony
Theft (3 Counts), Level 6 Felony
Tax Evasion (8 Counts), Level 6 Felony

Maria Nataren Bonilla, 40, Clarksville, Indiana

Corrupt Business Enterprise (Racketeering), Level 5 Felony
Theft (3 Counts), Level 6 Felony
Tax Evasion (4 Counts), Level 6 Felony

Under the Law, criminal charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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The annual Jim Smoak Concert and Open House at The Depot Railroad Museum will be Saturday, Dec. 7, from 1to 3 p.m. The museum is located at 206 S College Ave, Salem.

Jim Smoak and the Louisiana Honeydrippers will be presenting their annual concert. There will be a variety of Country, Gospel, and Bluegrass music that includes banjo picking, guitar strumming, harmonica blowing, and of course, some singing!

There will be refreshments of cookies and cider forv isitors to enjoy, as well as a chance to roam The Depot Railroad Museum and see the HO model trains in the basement!

Admission is only a monetary donation to The Depot.

The public is invited.

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Grants totaling over $55,000.00 were awarded to non-profit organizations serving Washington County by the generous donors of the Washington County Community Foundation for the Fall 2024 grant cycle. Grants are awarded from the Foundation’s Touch Tomorrow Funds, which were established by several outstanding donors.

Washington County Helping Hands was awarded a $3455 to assist in purchasing a new HVAC system to replace the extremely outdated system at the Helping Hands House.

Dare to Care will once again be filling school pantries thanks to a $10,000 grant to provide needy students necessary nourishment.

Small Group Tutoring will be available through CAST thanks to a $7580 grant to hire six individuals to provide the tutoring to students that are struggling with reading and math.

A $10,345 grant has been awarded to Washington County Historical Society which will enable them to update technology and digitize historical documents including old newspapers, genealogical research records, and books.

Jackson Township VFD has been awarded a $13,594.71 grant to purchase rope and water rescue equipment to be used throughout Washington County and surrounding areas.

A $6,225.00 grant has been awarded to The Warming Station in order for them to receive their 501c3 nonprofit status as well as providing needed supplies to the center as well as patrons of the center.

Washington County Community Foundation is a nonprofit public charity established in 1993 to serve donors, award grants, and provide leadership to improve Washington County forever

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The Washington County Community Foundation recently presented a grant check for the Washington County Historical Society at its Annual Meeting of the Membership this past Saturday, Nov. 9.

On Oct. 22, the Washington County Historical Society was announced as one of the grantee's for the WCCF's 2024 Fall Grant Cycle. This grant awarded $10,345.00 for the Digitization Initiative, which will allow for the purchase of updated computers, laptops, scanners, archival materials, and software to begin the digitization of the incredible records stored at the Stevens Memorial Museum Genealogical Library. There is an array of bound newspapers, scrapbooks, photographs and more that will be further protected by being digitized. This will allow better access to materials when assisting visitors with genealogical research.

The historical society staff is grateful to the Washington County Community Foundation for the grant, and they are very excited to get the process underway. It is hoped the initiative will inspire the community to get involved with the digitization process. There are plans to accept new volunteers, have training sessions, and "Scan-a-thons." The community is asked to watch the group's social posts and website for more information as the project gets underway.

Kaylee Seabolt, office manager and librarian at The John Hay Center, also thanks the public and members for donations to the project.

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As part of their tour, the Budweiser Clydesdales trotted to Walmart in Salem on November 15. Posing stoically for photos, the horses were in the parking lot from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. to help celebrate Salem Walmart's 8th anniversary, which is Saturday, November 16.

Also present was an Auntie Anne's pretzel truck and Small Town Kettle Corn serving up snacks during the festivities!

Enjoy video and photos from the event below!