Harry S. Richard, Filing False Tax Return, Massachusetts 2018

Local Roofing Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Failing to Report $2.1 Million in Business Receipts

BOSTON, MA - Harry S. Richard, 68, owner of George H. Richard & Son Roofing in Milton, Mass., pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return in federal court in Boston.

According to federal authorities, Richard failed to disclose substantial business receipts on his tax returns from 2010 through 2013. He deposited the bulk of payments he received for roofing services into his personal bank accounts and avoided paying taxes totaling about $353,246.

As part of his guilty plea, Richard admitted to failing to report more than $2.1 million in business receipts on his tax returns. Many of the checks he received from customers were made payable to Richard personally, at his direction.

The charge of filing a false tax return provides for a sentence of no greater than three years in prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Richard owned and operated Richard Roofing, a business established by his great-grandfather in 1865. The business has been a staple in the community for over 150 years.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling made the announcement, along with Kristina O'Connell, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigations in Boston. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Balthazard of Lelling's Economic Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

Sentencing for Richard is scheduled for September 11, 2018, in front of U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/owner-milton-roofing-business-pleads-guilty-failing-report-21-million-business-receipts