Delaware Businessman Sentenced To Prison For Tax Crimes

Wilmington, Del. – David C. Weiss, United States Attorney for the District of Delaware announced today that Jeffrey Minner, age 55, was sentenced to 18 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Gregory Sleet. In addition, Minner was ordered to pay $1,223,660 in restitution to the IRS.

According to statements made at the sentencing hearing and documents filed in court, Minner owned and operated Advanced Enterprises Incorporated, a commercial cleaning company that employed between 140 and 185 employees at any given time.  Minner pled guilty to withholding taxes from his employees but failing to pay those monies over to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). 

Over the course of five years between 2011 and 2016, Minner collected in excess of $1.2 million in employee Medicare, Social Security, and income taxes that he did not pay over to the IRS.  Instead, Minner used a portion of those monies to fund his lifestyle and pay off other debts.       

In sentencing Minner to prison, U.S. District Court Judge Gregory Sleet said, “I hope this sentence will promote a greater respect for the law.” 

U.S. Attorney Weiss added, “The U.S. Tax Code operates on a system of voluntary compliance. Not only will this sentence deter others who might consider diverting employee tax obligations to line their own pockets, but it represents justice for every tax-paying citizen.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Whitney C. Cloud and Alexander P. Ibrahim and investigated by special agents from IRS Criminal Investigation.