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Press Release

Royal Oak Resident Pleads Guilty To Tax Evasion

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Michigan

Robin Petty, age 53, of Royal Oak, Michigan, part owner of Superior Metal Finishing Corporation, a Detroit, MI corporation, pleaded guilty to one count of income tax evasion, United States Attorney Barbara McQuade announced today.

McQuade was joined in the announcement by Jarod J. Koopman, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.

Petty entered the guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn.

According to court records, Petty served as the treasurer of Superior Metal Finishing, a Sub-S Corporation and received wages, as well as the income that was generated by her ownership of Superior Metal Finishing Corporation shares.  During 2008, Petty received income totaling $119,117, which she reported on her Federal Income Tax return.  However, evidence showed that in 2008, Petty had received a total of $356,050 in Superior Metal Finishing Corp. checks made payable to her.  Her deliberate failure to report $236,933 in income received from Superior Metal Finishing caused her tax liability to be understated by $70,073 for the 2008 tax year.  Under her plea agreement, Petty is also being held responsible for filing similar false returns for the years 2009-2011.  In all, she evaded $339,526 in federal income taxes for the years 2008-2011.

“Every American has a duty to pay their fair share of taxes.  By her guilty plea today, Petty is acknowledging and accepting the consequences of evading that duty,” said Special Agent in Charge Jarod J. Koopman.

Petty’s sentencing will be set by the court.  The charge of income tax evasion carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and/or a fine of $250,000.

The case was investigated by special agents of the IRS-Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ross I MacKenzie.

Updated March 19, 2015