Boulos Hanna, Tax Evasion, Connecticut 2024

Boulos Hanna, also known as ‘Paul Hanna,’ 66, of East Lyme, Connecticut, was sentenced to 10 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for tax evasion, after failing to pay over $244,000 in taxes owed to the IRS. Hanna was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford on May 6, 2024. In addition to his prison time, Hanna must also pay a $25,000 fine and $244,541 in restitution.

According to court documents, Hanna is the sole owner of Paul Hanna DMD PC, a dental practice in New London. He took fees from dental patients in the form of personal checks, cash, and credit card payments, and owned the building where his dental practice is located, with the practice paying rent to Hanna individually.

Hanna filed tax returns for himself and his wife for the years 2000 through 2009, and paid his tax liability for those years. However, he failed to file tax returns for the years 2010 through 2020, resulting in a loss to the IRS of $244,541.

The Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Wines prosecuted Hanna, who pleaded guilty on July 17, 2023.

Hanna’s failure to pay his taxes resulted in the IRS placing liens on his property and seizing payments. He attempted to evade the assessment of tax by paying himself ‘management fees’ instead of a reasonable wage, and operating in cash by self-endorsing business checks to himself and cashing these checks to keep money out of his personal bank accounts.

The case serves as a reminder of the importance of paying taxes and the consequences of tax evasion. ‘Tax evasion is a serious crime that can have severe consequences,’ a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Hanna’s sentence was handed down on May 6, 2024, and he is required to report to prison on the same date. The case is a reminder to all individuals and businesses to fulfill their tax obligations and to seek professional help if needed.

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