Joel Konopka, Corporate Tax Evasion, New Jersey 2023

NEWARK, N.J. - Joel Konopka, a 45-year-old contractor from Elizabeth, New Jersey, has been arrested and charged with corporate tax evasion, announced U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger on May 30, 2026.

Konopka, the owner and sole shareholder of Konopka Construction Inc., is accused of evading corporate taxes on business income totaling over $3.3 million from 2014 through 2017. The company provided construction, contracting, and snow plowing services in northern New Jersey during this period.

According to documents filed in the case, Konopka Construction realized business income of at least $3.3 million, including over $1 million in 2016. However, Konopka did not truthfully and accurately report this income on corporate tax returns, Form 1120s. In fact, he filed returns for tax years 2014 and 2015 that reported no income for the company, and failed to file any returns for tax years 2016 and 2017.

Konopka allegedly disguised the income by operating primarily in cash. He received hundreds of checks annually made payable to Konopka Construction, totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars, and cashed all but one check at check cashing businesses in Essex and Ocean counties.

The tax evasion charges against Konopka are punishable by up to five years in prison and a $500,000 fine per count. The filing of false tax returns charges carry a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $500,000 fine per count. The failure to file tax return charges are punishable by up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine per count.

Konopka appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica Stein Allen in Newark federal court on May 30, 2026 and was detained. The investigation leading to the arrest was conducted by special agents with IRS - Criminal Investigation and the FBI.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark J. McCarren and Francesca Liquori of the Special Prosecutions Division in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and Joel Konopka is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/union-county-man-arrested-corporate-tax-evasion