BOSTON – A North Dartmouth man has been caught in a web of deceit and greed after pleading guilty to filing a false tax return that grossly under-reported his income.
Gerald Sicard, 57, a self-employed building contractor, pleaded guilty to filing a materially false tax return. The charge carries a maximum sentence of three years of in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $100,000. Sicard may also be required to pay the costs of prosecution.
According to the Information, in 2007, Sicard intentionally under-reported his business income to his tax preparer, who then prepared Sicard’s 2007 personal tax return in reliance on the false numbers. Sicard’s actual gross income for 2007 was approximately $488,112, but he reported only $174,310 of gross income to his tax preparer.
Sicard’s misrepresentations deprived the U.S. Treasury of about $111,969 in tax revenue for 2007. The case is being prosecuted by Andrew E. Lelling of Ortiz’s Economic Crimes Unit.
Sicard, by agreement, may serve a period of home confinement instead of incarceration. United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and William P. Offord, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston, made the announcement today.
The under-reporting of income by Sicard is a stark reminder of the importance of honesty when it comes to paying taxes. Tax cheats like Sicard not only deprive the government of revenue, but also undermine the trust and integrity of our tax system.
Sicard’s sentencing is scheduled for May 15, 2014. The investigation into Sicard’s tax fraud was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston. The case is a testament to the determination of law enforcement to hold tax cheats accountable for their actions.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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