Florida Businessman Sentenced to Prison for Tax and Labor Crimes
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Mac Johnson, 51, of Newberry, Florida, was sentenced to one year and a day in prison for tax and labor crimes, including harboring undocumented aliens, evading workers' compensation and payroll taxes, and structuring financial transactions to evade reporting requirements.
Johnson, who operates a roofing, tree service, and dumpster business, devised a scheme to conceal the amount of wages earned by his undocumented alien employees to avoid paying more than $1.7 million in federal income, Medicare, and social security taxes, as well as more than $1 million in Florida worker’s compensation premiums.
The investigators discovered that undocumented alien employees on work sites did not speak English or have any personal identification. Their names did not match the names on the insurance policy, and the undocumented alien employees’ files contained employment eligibility verification forms that did not match their handwriting.
Johnson also provided transportation to the work sites and rented residences he owned to the undocumented workers for which he deducted money from their pay.
“Today’s sentencing should send a tough message to all of those businesses who believe they can gain an unfair advantage by not paying employment taxes … you will pay in the end,” stated Mary Hammond, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation, Tampa Field Office.
Johnson pleaded guilty on February 27, 2018, to tax fraud, wire fraud, structuring financial transactions to evade reporting requirements, and harboring undocumented aliens. As part of his plea, he agreed to make restitution to the IRS.
The case resulted from an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Insurance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory P. McMahon prosecuted the case.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
