BUFFALO, N.Y. – George Ward, 57, a North Tonawanda businessman, has been handed down a severe punishment for his tax evasion schemes. According to U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross, Ward was sentenced by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr., to serve four years’ probation, with the first six months under home incarceration followed by six months of home detention.
In addition to the probationary term, Ward must pay a total of $2,635,542.66 in restitution to the IRS and $646,770 to the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance for his fraudulent activities.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A. C. Penrose, who prosecuted the case, revealed that Ward’s crimes spanned from 2015 to 2020. During this time, he was the owner and operator of a fire protection and inspection business in Amherst, NY. Penrose stated that Ward deliberately failed to file personal income tax returns, hiding substantial business revenues.
Ward also absconded with taxes withheld from his employees’ pay, resulting in a significant loss to the IRS. The tax evasion cost the IRS $953,793 and the New York Department of Taxation and Finance $165,645. Penrose detailed how Ward went further, providing false statements to an IRS revenue officer, using a check cashing business for over $2,000,000, and funnelling cash from his business into his wife’s bank account.
This sentencing is the culmination of a thorough investigation led by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Thomas Fattorusso. The severity of Ward’s punishment sends a clear message that tax evasion will not be tolerated in the United States.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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