Medical Device CEO Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Tax Evasion

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. sentenced Briant Benson, 59, of El Dorado Hills, today to 12 months and one day in prison for tax evasion, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, during the years 2004 through 2006, Benson failed to file tax returns or pay any personal income tax to the Internal Revenue Service, despite receiving at least $2 million dollars in income as the President and CEO of multiple medical device companies. Further, Benson used corporate funds to support his lavish lifestyle. He used corporate funds to purchase multimillion dollar homes, buy hundreds of thousands of dollars in jewelry and furniture, and pay for lavish travel accommodations such as luxury hotels, private jets, and limousines. Benson also used corporate funds to pay over half a million dollars in gambling debt. Nevertheless, when confronted by IRS officers, Benson denied using corporate funds for his personal use.

Benson’s failure to report his personal income and pay taxes due and owing on that income resulted in a tax loss of at least $249,000.

This case was the product of an investigation by the IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew D. Segal and Amy Schuller Hitchcock prosecuted the case.