A Collinsville, Virginia pharmacist has pleaded guilty to failing to account for and pay over employment taxes, netting a total of $5 million in lost revenue to the U.S. Treasury. Jerry R. Harper, Jr., 61, owned and operated Family Discount Pharmacy, Inc. (FDP) in Stanleytown, Virginia, with multiple locations in Stuart, Rocky Mount, Chatham, and Brosville, Virginia.
According to court documents, as owner of FDP, Harper was responsible for collecting and paying over FDP’s employment taxes. However, from 1998 through 2014, FDP accrued employment tax liabilities of more than $5 million. Harper withheld these taxes from FDP employees’ wages, but did not pay the taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
In over 15 years, Harper only filed one employment tax return with the IRS. Harper admitted that instead of providing the employment taxes to the IRS, he caused FDP to pay his personal expenses. For example, Harper wired over $1 million to his personal bank account, made over $500,000 in stock market investments, spent over $100,000 on his son’s pharmacy school tuition, and purchased over $370,000 of real property in Virginia and North Carolina. Harper also used part of the money to purchase a Jeep Grand Cherokee and a jet ski.
“Today’s guilty plea sends a clear message that this type of conduct will not be tolerated,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman. “Employment tax violations represent tens of billions of dollars in lost revenue to the U.S. Treasury and the Justice Department is committed to prosecuting individuals involved in these tax frauds.”
Sentencing is scheduled for October 26, 2018. Harper faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.
Harper’s actions are a reminder of the importance of tax compliance and the consequences of failing to pay employment taxes. As a business owner, Harper had a responsibility to ensure that his employees’ taxes were paid, but instead, he used the funds for personal gain.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Cullen commended special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Tax Division Trial Attorney Daniel McGraw and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charlene Day, who are prosecuting the case. Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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