Former Hockey Association Treasurer Sentenced For Tax Evasion

MINNEAPOLIS— Earlier today in federal court in St. Paul, a former Minnesota Amateur Hockey Association, District 2, treasurer was sentenced for evading his personal income taxes in 2010. United States District Court Judge Richard H. Kyle sentenced Steven Brier to eight months in prison on one count of tax evasion. Brier was charged on December 4, 2012, and pleaded guilty on December 17, 2012.

In his plea agreement, Brier admitted from April 2005 through September 2011, he stole at least $384,000 during his time as treasurer for the Minnesota Amateur Hockey Association, District 2. As treasurer, Brier had signature authority for the District 2 bank accounts and only one signature was required on the checks issued by the Association. Brier acknowledges that he wrote unauthorized checks to himself from District 2’s bank account. The treasurer position was not a paid position, so Brier was only supposed to receive money from the Association for reimbursable expenses paid out-of-pocket. To avoid detection and to make the checks look legitimate, Brier wrote “scheduling” and “playoff expense” in the memo line to make it appear that the checks were reimbursements of expenses he paid out-of-pocket.

Over the years, Brier tried to pay back the amounts he owed before anyone found out. However, the defendant still owes District 2 much of the money that he stole. Brier tried to gamble at various casinos in an attempt to win back the money he owed to the Association.

During the tax year 2010, Brier evaded his personal income taxes by approximately $74,473. Brier also acknowledges that he attempted to evade his personal income taxes by approximately $240,396 during tax years 2007 through 2010. Brier failed to inform his return preparer of the money he took from District 2. Since Brier calculated his business income and expenses for his return preparer, he did not have to submit his business or personal bank statements, which would have shown the deposits from District 2. Brier agrees that the tax loss resulting from his evasion is at least $68,000 for the tax years 2007 through 2010.

This case was the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin S. Ueland.

Per U.S. Department of Justice policy, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is not allowed to provide the age and city of residence for defendants charged in criminal tax cases.