Husband and wife plead guilty to federal tax violations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
January 4, 2012 |
TRENTON, N.J. – Michael and Melissa Rudow, a married couple who own and operate a construction company, both pleaded guilty today to federal tax violations, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman and John A. DiCicco, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, announced.
Michael Rudow, of Jackson, N.J., pleaded guilty to an Indictment charging him with one count of conspiring to defraud the United States and four counts of making false and fraudulent statements on the couple’s income tax returns from 2003 through 2006. Melissa Rudow, also of Jackson, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor Information charging her with one count of delivering and disclosing a 2003 tax return that is fraudulent and false. Both defendants entered their guilty pleas before U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made during the defendants’ guilty plea proceedings:
Michael and Melissa Rudow owned and operated M. Rudow Contractors, a general contracting business. During the tax years 2003-2006, Michael Rudow filed false income tax returns, significantly understating the gross income generated from the business. During the 2003 tax year, Melissa Rudow filed a false 2003 income tax return, which substantially understated the couple’s gross income during 2003.
At sentencing, Michael Rudow faces up to five years in prison on the conspiracy count, three years in prison on each of the false income tax return counts, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Melissa Rudow faces up to one year in prison and a fine of $100,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Sentencing for both defendants is scheduled for April 11, 2012.
U.S. Attorney Fishman praised IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Victor W. Lessoff, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty pleas.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Diana Carrig of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden, and Trial Attorney Jeffrey Bender of the U.S. Department of Justice, Tax Division.
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Defense counsel:
Michael Rudow: Brian Reilly Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Trenton, N.J.
Melissa Rudow: John S. Furlong Esq., West Trenton, N.J.
