Tax Cheat

⏱ 2 min read

Mark Edwards, a 61-year-old Danbury man, has admitted to filing false tax returns, cheating the IRS out of nearly $370,000. Edwards, who owns and operates Mark Edwards Roofing and Siding, LLC, pleaded guilty to aiding in the preparation of a false tax return, a crime that could land him in prison for up to three years. The scheme, which began at least as early as 2018, involved Edwards providing his tax preparer with falsified income and expense figures, resulting in a substantial underreporting of his income.

According to court documents, Edwards underreported his gross receipts by at least $1.3 million between 2019 and 2023, resulting in a tax loss of $368,334 to the IRS. The investigation, conducted by the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division, revealed that Edwards had failed to keep accurate records or perform proper bookkeeping for his business, making it easier for him to falsify his tax returns.

Edwards pleaded guilty to the offense before U.S. District Judge Sarah F. Russell in New Haven. He was released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.

The guilty plea is a significant victory for the IRS and the US Attorney’s Office, which have been cracking down on tax fraud in recent years. The case serves as a reminder that tax cheats will be held accountable for their actions, and that the consequences can be severe.