Danbury Tree Service Owner Admits Tax Dodge

HARTFORD, CT – BILL G. MAKROS, 57, of Danbury, Connecticut, has confessed to a five-year scheme to cheat the IRS out of over $140,000, according to a statement released today by U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Avery. Makros, the owner of Budget Tree and Stump Removal Service, LLC, waived his right to a grand jury indictment and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver.

The feds say Makros wasn’t shy about hiding his money. From 2016 through 2020, he allegedly steered customer payments away from legitimate business channels, accepting checks made out to “cash” or directly to himself. These funds were then squirreled away into accounts separate from his company’s, or simply cashed and kept off the books entirely. The result? A complete failure to file federal individual tax returns for those years, leaving a $140,694 tax bill unpaid on approximately $517,000 in profits.

But the deception didn’t stop there. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Makros allegedly sought pandemic relief loans, submitting falsified IRS Schedule C forms – claiming they were part of filed tax returns for 2019 and 2020 – despite having never actually filed those returns with the IRS. It’s a classic case of adding insult to injury, attempting to profit from a crisis while simultaneously stiffing the government.

Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis, Jr., of IRS Criminal Investigation, made it clear that tax evasion is no small crime. “Failing to honestly report and pay taxes deprives the government of resources needed to provide vital services to the community,” Chavis stated. “We are committed to investigating and prosecuting those who attempt to evade their tax obligations.”

Judge Oliver has set sentencing for September 27, 2024. Makros faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. He’s currently out on a personal recognizance bond, meaning he’s free pending sentencing, but his freedom is far from guaranteed. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anastasia King is prosecuting the case, and will likely be pushing for a substantial prison term.

The investigation was spearheaded by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, highlighting the agency’s ongoing efforts to crack down on financial crimes. This case serves as a stark reminder that even seemingly small businesses aren’t exempt from federal scrutiny, and that attempting to defraud the government carries significant consequences.