Contractor for DOJ and EPA Pleads Guilty to Failing to File Federal Income Tax Returns
Failed to Pay $214,794 in Taxes While Receiving
Over $850,000 in Fees from the Government
Baltimore, Maryland - Joseph Van Gieson, age 59, of Annapolis, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to failing to file federal income tax returns for tax years 2003 through 2006.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Sparkman of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation.
“While taxpayers have the right to contest their tax liabilities in the courts, taxpayers do not have the right to violate and disobey tax laws,” stated Rebecca Sparkman, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge, Washington DC Field Office. “The IRS-Criminal Investigation is committed to aggressively pursuing those taxpayers who willfully fail to file their tax returns.”
According to the four count indictment to which he pled guilty, since 2003,Van Gieson worked as a self-employed consultant for the United States Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency. From 2003 through 2006,Van Gieson and his wife received a gross income of $851,747, and incurred a tax liability of $214,794. Van Gieson requested, and was granted, extensions for filing his federal tax returns for years 2003 through 2005, but he admits that he did not file a tax return for any of those years, nor did he file a tax return for 2006.
Van Gieson faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine for each of the four counts of failure to file a tax return. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for December 20, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Mark W. Crooks, who is prosecuting the case.
