⏱ 2 min read
Danny Nickelson, a 54-year-old Jefferson County businessman, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for failing to pay over $774,000 in employment taxes on behalf of his employees. Nickelson, who owned General Physiotherapy and Tomichi Industries, withheld taxes from his employees’ paychecks but used the money for business expenses and personal expenditures instead of paying it to the IRS. The tax evasion scheme spanned 10 years, from 2013 to 2022, and put his employees’ future federal benefits at risk.
Nickelson pleaded guilty to two counts of failure to pay over trust fund taxes in February. In addition to his prison sentence, he was ordered to pay $774,081 in restitution to the IRS and a fine of $18,684. The case was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation unit and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow.
Nickelson’s actions were deemed a serious offense, with Clow stating that he ‘put at risk his employees’ tax liabilities and future federal benefits’ and ‘stole money from the U.S. tax system that funds the federal government and the social safety net.’ The sentence serves as a warning to other business owners who may be tempted to evade employment taxes.
The IRS takes tax evasion seriously, and this case highlights the agency’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for their actions. Nickelson’s sentence is a reminder that tax evasion is a crime with serious consequences, and that those who engage in it will face prosecution and punishment.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: White Collar Crime
- Defendant: Missouri
- Location: MO
- Source: DOJ Press Release
