SF Garage Company Owner Pleads Guilty To Tax Fraud

SAN FRANCISCO – John Clifford Pollard pleaded guilty today to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of a false U.S. Income Tax Return United States Attorney Melinda Haag and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge José M. Martinez announced.

According to the plea agreement, Pollard, 46, of San Francisco, is the owner and operator of 5 12 Construction, Inc., doing business as SF Garage Company. SF Garage Co. specializes in residential and commercial construction in San Francisco. Pollard admitted that during the 2009 and 2010 tax years he willfully aided and assisted in the preparation and filing of the four quarterly employment tax returns [Forms 941] for the 2009 tax year, reporting wages paid to SF Garage employees. The tax returns were all false because they omitted wages that had been paid to SF Garage employees.

Pollard was charged on November 5, 2013, with one count of assisting in the filing of false tax returns. He pleaded guilty to the one count. Sentencing is scheduled for February 20, 2014, at 1:30 p.m., before The Honorable William H. Orrick, United States District Court Judge, in San Francisco. Pollard’s attorney stated in open court today that Pollard has agreed to pay his civil tax liabilities which exceed $300,000.

The maximum statutory penalty for each count of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of a false U.S. income tax return, in violation of Title 26, U.S.C. § 7206(2), is three years in prison and a fine of $250,000. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Cynthia Stier is the Assistant United States Attorney who is prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.

(Pollard information )