WAILUKU » A Maui man has been sentenced to two years in prison for violating federal tax laws.

Bruce R. Travis, 60, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor for obstructing and impeding the lawful administration of tax laws by the Internal Revenue Service.

He also was convicted Tuesday of filing a false amended federal individual income tax return for 2000.

Travis, a real estate broker and Kihei resident, was ordered to pay more than $37,700 in restitution, fines and prosecutorial costs.

Travis, who owned and operated Americorp International Ltd., falsely amended his individual tax returns during an audit by the Internal Revenue Service, according to a plea agreement.

Travis falsely claimed he owed no income taxes for years 1996 through 2000, and obtained a fraudulent arbitration award of $300,000 against the Internal Revenue Service and an IRS employee.

The tax loss to the United States totaled more than $400,000, according to information from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Honolulu.