Tulsa ATM Installer Petrig Gets 24 Months for $5M Tax Dodge

TULSA, OK – John D. Petrig, 49, of Tulsa, is trading casino commissions for cell blocks. The ATM installer was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison today after pleading guilty to one count of tax evasion, a scheme designed to shield nearly $5 million in income from the IRS. U.S. District Court Judge Gregory Frizzell delivered the sentence, following a joint announcement by U.S. Attorney Trent Shores and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman.

From 2000 to 2012, Petrig profited handsomely installing and servicing ATM machines within casinos, raking in commissions based on transaction volume. While he briefly filed a 2005 return, admitting a tax liability of just over $110,000, it was a calculated deception. Petrig actually owed the IRS a staggering $217,000 in taxes, penalties, and interest. Rather than pay, he actively worked to hide his earnings.

The scheme unraveled when the IRS attempted to collect the 2005 debt through a levy on Petrig’s commissions at Choice ATM Enterprises. Instead of allowing the funds to reach the IRS, Petrig directed Choice to divert future payments to a “nominee entity” – a thinly veiled attempt to shield his income. Court documents reveal Petrig completely abandoned filing tax returns from 2006 through 2012, despite earning a total of nearly $5 million in commissions during those years. This wasn’t oversight; it was calculated fraud.

“Petrig tried to beat the system and lost,” Shores stated bluntly. “Over a seven year period, he earned a commission income of almost $5 million and failed to pay the nearly $1 million owed in income taxes. When the United States attempted to collect those back taxes, he directed his commission payments to be sent to fictitious corporations.” Zuckerman echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that tax evasion is “serious criminal activity” and that the Tax Division is dedicated to prosecution.

The sentence isn’t just about prison time. Judge Frizzell ordered Petrig to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $974,350.48 – every penny of the evaded income, plus interest and penalties. He’ll also serve three years of supervised release after completing his 24-month sentence. The investigation was conducted by the Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.

The prosecution team, led by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney/Assistant Chief Andrew J. Kameros of the Tax Division, along with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles M. McLoughlin and Victor A.S. Régal, built a solid case, demonstrating a clear pattern of deliberate tax avoidance. The message from the Department of Justice is clear: attempt to cheat the system, and you will face the consequences. This case serves as a stark warning to others considering similar schemes – the IRS is watching, and they will pursue justice, even when it’s hidden behind a stack of cash.