United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

STRATFORD MAN WHO FILED FALSE TAX RETURNS SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JAMES A. FARIS, age 59, of 1130 James Farm Road, Stratford, Connecticut, was sentenced today on his conviction for subscribing and filing false federal income tax returns. During proceedings this afternoon in New Haven, United States District Judge Mark R. Kravitz sentenced FARIS to six months of imprisonment followed by six months of home confinement. Judge Kravitz also ordered FARIS to serve one year of supervised release, and to pay a fine in the amount of $5000. FARIS pleaded guilty to the charge on May 19, 2004.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, from on or before 1997 until on or after 2001, FARIS was an owner and president of ORONOQUE PAINTING & REMODELING, INC. (also doing business as J&B Painting, Inc.), a painting and remodeling business that did business in the Fairfield and Stratford area. During the relevant period, FARIS did not inform his accountant of substantial amounts of income received by his business from his clients for work performed, and thus did not ultimately report such income on either the relevant U.S. corporate income tax returns (forms 1120) or as constructive dividends on his U.S. personal income tax returns (forms 1040) for the 1997-2000 tax years.

Relating to the period 1997-2000, the FARIS failed to report on the U.S. corporate income tax returns (forms 1120) for his company Oronoque Painting & Remodeling, Inc., taxable income totaling $423,195.80 as follows: 1997 ($88,471); 1998 ($176,430); 1999 ($127,729.80); 2000 ($30,565). This resulted in the underreporting of taxes due by the company of $107,793 as follows: 1997 ($18,330); 1998 ($52,058); 1999 ($33,064); 2000 ($4,341). In addition, FARIS failed to report taxable income of $431,645 on his jointly filed U.S. personal income tax returns as follows: 1997 ($89,243); 1998 ($181,560); 1999 ($130,277); 2000 ($30,565). This resulted in the underreporting of taxes in the total amount of $118,882 as follows: 1997 ($20,800); 1998 ($53,010); 1999 ($38,029); 2000 ($7,043).

This case was investigated by Special Agents with Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.

CONTACT:

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