Clarkston Man Sentenced For Tax Evasion

A 41-year-old Clarkston man was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for income tax evasion, U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced. 

McQuade was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Jarod Koopman, of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.

Receiving the sentence from U.S. District Judge Gershwin A. Drain was Bradley T. McKouen.  Judge Drain also imposed a two-year term of supervised release and ordered McKouen to pay the U.S. Treasury $319,000 in restitution.  McKouen pleaded guilty to the charge in April.

According to court records, during the 2008 tax year, McKouen was the president and sole member of Delta Staffing, LLC, an employee leasing company located in Clarkston.  Delta was a Schedule C company, meaning its profits were to be reported on Schedule C as a part of McKouen’s personal federal income tax return.  In 2008, Delta’s gross receipts were approximately $5.7 million. However, McKouen reported $0 gross receipts on his return.  He also reported $0 business income, $0 taxable income, and $0 income tax.  In 2008, McKouen’s actual taxable income was approximately $299,000 and his tax due was approximately $110,000.  Under the terms of his plea agreement, McKouen is also being held responsible for filing similar zero-income returns for the years 2004-2007.  In all, he failed to report $15 million in gross income and evaded $319,000 in federal income taxes for the years 2004-2008.

"The prosecution and sentencing of Mr. McKouen, who intentionally concealed his income and evaded taxes, reinforces the message to the public that the IRS-CI will continue to work to detect and investigate anyone that believes they are above the law,” said Special Agent in Charge Koopman.

The case was investigated by special agents of the Internal Revenue Service and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Hiyama.