Sergio Murillo, Obstructing the Internal Revenue Code, Colorado 2018

GRAND JUNCTION, CO – Sergio Murillo, 42, of Aurora, Colorado, isn’t cleaning windows anymore. He’s cleaning up a mess of his own making, having pleaded guilty to obstructing the due administration of the Internal Revenue Code. The guilty plea, entered before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Gordon P. Gallagher on February 22, 2018, is a direct admission of years of financial deception, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado and IRS Criminal Investigation.

Murillo, originally indicted by a federal grand jury in Grand Junction on April 6, 2017, on charges of tax evasion, cut a deal. He agreed to be charged by information and plead guilty to the lesser charge of obstructing the IRS. The scheme, laid bare in court documents, centered around his business, Mountain High Window Cleaning, which provided window cleaning, snow removal, and other property services across Colorado.

From 2007 through 2010, Murillo directed clients to make checks payable directly to him, bypassing the business account. He then funneled those funds into personal bank accounts, effectively shielding the income from the IRS. This wasn’t just a simple accounting error; it was a calculated effort to underreport his earnings on personal tax returns. When the IRS came calling, Murillo dug the hole deeper, repeatedly lying to Revenue Agents.

According to the plea agreement, Murillo falsely claimed that clients decided whether to pay Mountain High or him directly. He also lied about having only one bank account, concealing the existence of others used to stash the illicit funds. These weren’t minor misstatements. Murillo admitted the total tax loss resulting from his actions totals a staggering $188,578, *plus* interest – a significant blow to federal revenue.

The IRS – Criminal Investigation unit built the case, meticulously tracing the funds and uncovering the pattern of deceit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Hautzinger is prosecuting the matter, ensuring Murillo faces the consequences of his actions. The sentence is scheduled for May 7, 2018, at 9:00 a.m., where Murillo will learn his fate.

This case serves as a stark reminder that attempts to evade taxes and obstruct the IRS will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing. For more information, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/co and follow @DCoNews on Twitter.