Haas Automation owner released from prison

Gene Haas, owner of Haas Automation Inc., was released from prison on May 7 having completed 16 months of a 24-month sentence for conspiring to commit tax evasion.
Haas will be on supervised release for six months, but will not be allowed to travel outside the jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles without permission.
Haas’ return comes at a time when his business has struggled during the economic downturn. Haas Automation, which is the largest machine tool builder in the country, has cut 400 jobs since January. Its work force has shrunk to 959 workers, while the company’s orders for machine tools have declined more than 62 percent since January 2008, according to a report in the Ventura County Star.