United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

FORMER WESTON RESIDENT SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR TAX FRAUD

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that MICHAEL HARRISON, 53, of Torrington, and formerly of Weston, was sentenced yesterday, December 21, by United States District Judge Christopher F. Droney in Hartford 12 months and one day of imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release, for failing to pay more than $200,000 in federal income taxes.

According to court documents and statements made in court, HARRISON was formerly  employed as Vice President and General Counsel of Danone Waters of North America.  In July 2004, HARRISON filed a false federal tax return for the tax year 2002.  The tax return failed to report $514,727.62 in income HARRISON received in 2002 from Danone through “Retained Attorney Partners, LLC,” an entity HARRISON controlled.

HARRISON’s willful omission on his personal tax return resulted in a tax loss to the Government of approximately $204,000.

As part of his sentence, HARRISON was ordered to pay to the Internal Revenue Service back taxes and interest in the total amount of more than $385,000.

On May 6, 2010, HARRISON pleaded guilty to one count of making and subscribing a false tax return.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, with the assistance of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James Smart.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov