COLUMBUS, OH – David S. Owens, 62, of Columbus, Ohio, is facing federal charges for allegedly stiffing the IRS out of $570,000 in employee payroll taxes. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio announced today that a federal information has been filed against Owens, accusing him of failing to account for and pay over taxes withheld from his employees’ paychecks.
According to the information, between 2008 and 2009, Owens, operating through his Canfield, Ohio-based company, Advetech, Inc., pocketed approximately $570,000 in payroll tax withholdings. Instead of forwarding these funds to the IRS as legally required, the government alleges Owens rerouted the money to two other Canfield companies he also owned: Brixton Development Corporation and Preferred Communities, Inc.
The scheme didn’t stop there. The feds say Owens then siphoned hundreds of thousands of dollars from these companies for his personal use. Essentially, he allegedly treated employee taxes as a personal slush fund. This isn’t just about unpaid taxes; it’s a blatant disregard for the law and a betrayal of the workers who had money withheld from their pay.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christos N. Georgalis is prosecuting the case, stemming from a joint investigation by the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration. These agencies have been digging into Owens’ finances for some time, piecing together the alleged scheme.
If convicted, Owens’ sentencing will be determined by the court, taking into account his criminal history (if any), his role in the alleged offense, and the specific details of the violation. While the statutory maximum hasn’t been specified, prosecutors will argue for a sentence that reflects the severity of the alleged financial crimes.
It’s crucial to remember that this is only a charge. Owens, like all defendants in the American justice system, is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The government bears the burden of proof, and Owens is entitled to a full and fair trial to defend himself against these accusations.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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