Grimy Times Exclusive: Florida Produce Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

A notorious figure in the South Florida business community has been caught with his hands in the cookie jar.

Alejandro Gomez, a former owner of Fleischmann’s Produce, has pleaded guilty to tax evasion in a federal district court in Fort Lauderdale.

According to court documents, Gomez spent a staggering $896,951 in 2014 and $1,051,213 in 2015 gambling at a Broward County casino. However, instead of reporting his losses as gambling expenses, he claimed them as cost of goods sold on his company’s tax returns, artificially reducing his income and underreporting his personal income for both years.

The false tax returns resulted in a tax loss of over $545,000 to the IRS. Gomez is scheduled to be sentenced on September 30 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg and Acting U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez announced the guilty plea, which was made possible by the tireless efforts of IRS-Criminal Investigation and Trial Attorneys Grace Albinson and David Zisserson of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.

Gomez’s crimes are a stark reminder that even the most seemingly legitimate business owners can engage in egregious financial misconduct. As Grimy Times continues to expose the darker side of business, we will be keeping a close eye on this case and any developments that may arise.

Mandatory Facts:

Defendant: Alejandro Gomez

Criminal Charges: Tax Evasion

City and State: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Date: September 30, 2015 (scheduled sentencing date)

Sentence: Up to 5 years in prison, restitution, and monetary penalties

Dollar Amounts: $896,951 (2014 gambling losses), $1,051,213 (2015 gambling losses), and $545,000 (tax loss to the IRS)

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