Richard Cooper, Tax Evasion, Massachusetts 2024

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Paving Contractor Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion Scheme

A North Shore paving contractor has pleaded guilty to a multi-year income tax evasion scheme, according to a recent indictment.

Richard Cooper, 71, of Billerica, pleaded guilty to four counts of tax evasion at the U.S. District Court in Boston. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled Cooper’s sentencing for Jan. 30, 2024.

Cooper was charged in September 2024 for his alleged crimes, which spanned from 2017 to 2020. During this time, he deposited customer payments to his company, Rick Cooper Paving, but also cashed over $4.3 million in customer checks. When Cooper had his taxes prepared, he did not tell his preparer about the checks he was cashing, resulting in his tax returns underreporting the gross receipts of the business by millions.

As a result, Cooper kept over $1 million that he should have paid in federal and state income taxes. This tax evasion scheme was uncovered by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office, under the leadership of Harry Chavis, Jr.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy announced the indictment, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil, who prosecuted the case. Basil is the Deputy Chief of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit.

The case against Cooper is a stark reminder of the consequences of tax evasion. Tax evasion is a serious crime that can result in severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment. The IRS takes tax evasion very seriously and works tirelessly to uncover and prosecute individuals who engage in this behavior.

Richard Cooper’s case serves as a warning to others who may be tempted to engage in tax evasion. The IRS will continue to investigate and prosecute individuals who engage in this behavior, and the consequences can be severe.