Brent Derouen, Failing to File Federal Income Tax Returns, Webster …

Brent Derouen, 37, of Webster, NY, has been sentenced to 30 days in jail, six months of weekend confinement in jail and 400 hours of community service for failing to pay income taxes. Derouen pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of failing to file federal income tax returns.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Field, Derouen operated a stock promotion business, OTC Advisors LLC, and earned income of approximately $181,000 and $390,000 in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Despite knowing he was obligated to report this income to the Internal Revenue Service and pay taxes on it, Derouen deliberately failed to do so.

The sentence, handed down by U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan W. Feldman, also includes an order for Derouen to pay $460,707.47 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. This amount represents the taxes Derouen owed but failed to pay, and is a significant penalty for his crimes.

The investigation that led to Derouen’s conviction was conducted by Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Shantelle P. Kitchen, Special Agent in Charge. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Field, who worked to ensure that Derouen was held accountable for his actions.

Derouen’s sentence serves as a reminder that tax evasion is a serious crime with significant consequences. The IRS and other law enforcement agencies are committed to identifying and prosecuting individuals who attempt to cheat the system and avoid paying their fair share of taxes.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York, led by U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr., is dedicated to combating financial crimes, including tax evasion. The office works closely with law enforcement agencies and other partners to investigate and prosecute cases involving financial fraud and other white-collar crimes.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. emphasized the importance of complying with tax laws and regulations. ‘Tax evasion is a serious offense that undermines the integrity of our tax system and deprives the government of revenue needed to fund important public programs,’ he said. ‘We will continue to work tirelessly to identify and prosecute individuals who engage in this type of criminal activity.’