Ibrahim Issa, Bribery and Tax Fraud, New York 2016

Grimy Times has learned that Ibrahim Issa, a Manhattan resident, has been found guilty of bribery of public officials and tax fraud in a Manhattan Federal Court. According to the court documents, Issa, 56, was convicted of one count of bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, one count of conspiracy to file a false corporate tax return, one count of corporate tax evasion, one count of aiding and abetting the filing of a false corporate tax return, and three counts of signing and subscribing a false personal tax return.

The jury delivered the verdict after a two-week trial before Chief United States District Judge Colleen McMahon. U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman praised the outstanding work of the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service. This matter is being handled by the Office's General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle Wirshba, Elizabeth Hanft, and Noah Solowiejczyk are in charge of the prosecution.

Issa, who owned and operated numerous auto-repair and maintenance companies in the New York area and elsewhere, paid bribes to Postal Service VMF managers in order to obtain work repairing and maintaining vehicles belonging to the Postal Service. Issa provided cash, gifts, lavish meals, and trips to these VMF Managers in exchange for receiving work for his companies. As a result of some of these bribes, Issa received millions of dollars in fees from the Postal Service.

In addition, Issa conspired with others to evade paying federal income taxes for his auto-repair and maintenance companies by misreporting income and expenses to the IRS. Issa also signed and subscribed to false personal income tax returns. As a result of Issa's tax fraud through both his companies and personally, Issa failed to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes due and owing.

The jury convicted Issa of bribery of public officials and tax fraud, a crime that carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. Issa is scheduled to be sentenced on April 30, 2019, at 4:00 p.m., before Chief Judge McMahon. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

The case highlights the extent of corruption within the auto-repair and maintenance industry, where companies are willing to pay bribes to secure lucrative contracts. The conviction of Ibrahim Issa serves as a reminder that the law will not tolerate such behavior and that those who engage in it will be held accountable.

The United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service have played a crucial role in bringing Issa to justice. Their efforts demonstrate the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies in combating corruption and tax evasion.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/owner-vehicle-maintenance-and-repair-companies-convicted-bribery-and-tax-fraud