Hamden Deli Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, today announced that on May 17, 2019, RAYMOND GEORGE, 52, of Hamden, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to one count of tax evasion.

According to court documents and statements made in court, George owns and operates a Ray & Mike’s, LLC, a delicatessen located at 3030 Whitney Avenue in Hamden.  For the 2012 and 2013 tax years, George evaded payment of his federal income taxes in multiple ways.  First, George failed to deposit all of the cash receipts of the business into his business bank account.  He used a portion of the cash to fill an in-store ATM and failed to report the cash as income.

In addition, George used the Ray & Mike business account to pay personal expenses.  He also deposited three large checks totaling nearly $300,000 from the Ray & Mike’s business account into his personal investment account, without reporting the funds as income in any capacity, and then withdrew funds from the investment account to purchase personal investment properties.  He also deposited a $25,800 check from the Ray & Mike’s lottery account into his personal investment account without reporting the funds as income.

On his federal tax returns, George underreported his income by approximately $365,065 for the 2012 tax year and by $273,108 for the 2013 tax year, and failed to pay a total of approximately $220,000 in taxes.

At sentencing, George faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of up to approximately $440,000.  He also has agreed to pay back taxes of $220,663, plus interest and penalties.

This case has been investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. McGarry.