United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

FAIRFIELD MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FILING FALSE TAX RETURN

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL R. MURRAY, age 56, of 976 S. Pine Creek Road, Fairfield, Connecticut, pleaded guilty today to filing a false tax return. Senior United States District Judge Peter C. Dorsey accepted MURRAY’s plea of guilty this afternoon in New Haven.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in Court, MURRAY made material misstatements regarding deductions and expenses on the federal income tax returns he filed for the 1999 and 2000 tax years. MURRAY today admitted that he overstated his itemized deductions in 1999 and 2000 in the amount of $39,450 and $28,205, respectively. MURRAY also overstated his expenses in 1999 and 2000 in the amount of $26,355 and $28,205, respectively. The total amount of overstated itemized deductions and overstated expenses for tax years 1999 and 2000 was $130,607. The tax loss owing to the above overstatements is $36,186. Further, the total state tax loss based on the above amount is $2,459.

“Individuals who cheat on their federal taxes do so at the risk of facing prosecution,” U.S. Attorney O’Connor stated. “This office will vigorously prosecute those who place their greed above the law.”

When he is sentenced on September 9, 2005, MURRAY faces a maximum term of imprisonment of three years and a fine of up to $100,000. Under the terms of the plea agreement, MURRAY paid all outstanding taxes at the time he entered his guilty plea.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James K. Filan, Jr.

CONTACT:

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