Remo DiFranco, co-owner of a sewage and plumbing business in Oakwood Village, Ohio, has pleaded guilty to tax charges, law enforcement officials said.
The crime involved a conspiracy to defraud the IRS between 2007 and 2012. During this time, DiFranco and other employees prepared checks to a company for specific amounts and falsely classified the payments as rent and material expenses.
DiFranco and another executive signed and filed tax returns for years 2007 through 2011 knowing the tax returns understated the company’s income and overstated its expenses, according to court documents.
“Conspiring to impede the IRS by creating business checks for expenses that were not incurred and receiving a kickback from those fraudulent business checks is not tax savings, but rather a recipe for criminal prosecution,” said Kathy A. Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Antoinette Bacon following an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.
DiFranco is scheduled to be sentenced on June 16.
DiFranco pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to defraud the IRS.
The case highlights the importance of tax compliance and the consequences of tax evasion. The IRS urges taxpayers to report any suspicious activity and cooperate with investigations to prevent such crimes.
This case serves as a reminder that tax crimes will be pursued to the fullest extent of the law.
Related Federal Cases
- Christopher Karasarides, Tax Fraud Conspiracy, Ohio 2022 · Ohio
- Mohamed Tawfik, Tax Evasion, Ohio 2006 · Pennsylvania
- A. Eddy Zai, Bank Bribery and Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud, Ohio 2003 · Virginia
- Joseph M. Palazzo, Mail Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, Wire Fraud, Ohio 2011 · Florida
- Thomas G. France, Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud and Wire Fraud, Ohio 2007 · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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