Attorney Sentenced To Prison For Filing False Tax Returns

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TIMOTHY G. GRIFFIN, 55, of Ridgefield, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to six months of imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release, for filing false tax returns.  He also was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and restitution to the U.S Treasury.

According to court documents and statements made in court, GRIFFIN practiced law in Bronxville, New York, and his clients paid him for his legal services.  In 2006, the Internal Revenue Service sent letters to GRIFFIN about his having not filed income tax returns for 2002, 2003, and 2004 tax years.  In response to the IRS inquiry, GRIFFIN prepared and submitted fraudulent individual income tax returns for the 2003 and 2004 tax years. The 2003 return reported income of $77,713, gross receipts from the law practice of $225,825, a net profit of $32,200, and a total tax of $10,981. The 2004 return reported income of $67,983, gross receipts from the law practice of $234,894, a net profit of $39,767, and a total tax of $9,606.  A subsequent criminal investigation determined that GRIFFIN did not report on these two tax returns approximately $498,934 in additional gross receipts from his law practice, resulting in additional tax due of $136,844.

On September 30, 2014, GRIFFIN waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false tax return.

Judge Underhill ordered GRIFFIN to make restitution to the U.S. Department of Treasury in the total amount of $153,807 – which includes $136,844 for the 2003 and 2004 tax years and $16,963 for the 2005 and 2006 tax years – plus applicable penalties and interest.

GRIFFIN also has two pending criminal cases in the State of New York, one involving his alleged embezzlement of $1,955,000 from the United Hebrew Cemetery on Staten Island, and one involving his alleged embezzlement of approximately $750,000 from seven clients.

This matter was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter S. Jongbloed.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT:

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