Norwalk Landscaper Pleads Guilty to Federal Tax Offense

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, today announced that CANDIDO VALADARES, also known as Candide Valadares, 57, of Norwalk, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday in New Haven federal court to one count of filing a false tax return.             

According to court documents and statements made in court, VALADARES operates two Norwalk-based landscaping businesses, Candide’s Landscaping and Water Gardens, LLC and Candide Contractor & Natural Pools, LLC.  He also provides snow-removal services to his clients during winter months.  An investigation revealed that VALADARES deposited receipts from his businesses into both his business and personal bank accounts.  He also paid various employee wages out of both his business and personal accounts.

VALADARES used a tax return preparer to prepare his yearly tax returns.  The tax preparer took figures from certain profit-and-loss statements obtained from VALADARES or his bookkeeper to prepare the relevant federal tax returns.  VALADARES knew that the profit-and-loss statements did not reflect all revenues deposited in VALADARES’ business and personal bank accounts.  As a result, VALADARES’ federal tax returns for 2009, 2010 and 2011 tax years underreported hundreds of thousands of dollars in total income.

VALADARES is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton on February 8, 2018, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of three years and a fine of up to $100,000.  VALADARES also has agreed to repay the U.S. Treasury $175,898 in restitution for the taxes he failed to pay, and additional penalties and interest that have accrued on his unpaid taxes.

This matter has been investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.