Florida Businessman Sentenced To Six Months’ Imprisonment For Failing To Remit Federal Payroll Taxes

SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that United States District Judge Richard P. Conaboy sentenced Joel Fuller, age 46, currently a resident of Florida, to six months’ imprisonment and a two-year term of supervised release, for failing to remit employee payroll taxes to the IRS.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Fuller, formerly owned Mabro Marketing, Inc. and Integrity Travel Solutions LLC, two Hazleton, Pennsylvania-based businesses that provided time-share marketing services to prospective clients on behalf of vacation companies. From 2010 through 2013, Fuller’s businesses withheld federal income taxes from employees’ paychecks, including income taxes and Federal Insurance Contribution Act taxes, but failed to remit those taxes and the businesses’ portions of those taxes to the IRS. The taxes were instead used by Fuller to fund his lifestyle. The total amount of unremitted taxes from both businesses combined was $180,783.

Fuller also failed to pay $136,734 that he owed to the IRS for his own personal income tax returns, from years 2005 through 2013.

In pronouncing the sentence, Judge Conaboy highlighted the interest in deterring others from committing similar crimes. Judge Conaboy also imposed a restitution order requiring Fuller to pay $317,517 to the IRS.

The investigation was conducted by the Criminal Investigation Division of the IRS. Assistant United States Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo prosecuted the case.

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