Town Of Binghamton Woman Sentenced For Filing A False Tax Return

Richard S. Hartunian, United States Attorney, Northern District of New York, announced today that Jacqueline MacBlane of the Town of Binghamton, Broome County, New York was sentenced in Federal Court in Binghamton by Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy in connection with her August 1, 2012, guilty plea to an Information charging her with Subscribing to a False Individual U.S. Income Tax Return. Judge McAvoy sentenced MacBlane to a term of two years of probation supervision and ordered her to perform100 hours community service, pay a $30,000 fine, and make restitution of $78,729. The defendant admitted at the time of her plea that she willfully subscribed to a U.S. Individual Form 1040 Tax Return, for tax year 2007, which substantially and materially understated her adjusted gross income and taxable income. During the 2007 tax year, the defendant managed and operated the Brackney Inn in Susquehanna County, Pa., and her husband managed and operated Charley’s Tavern in Broome County, New York.

During the tax years 2006 and 2007, the defendant filed Individual U.S. Income Tax Returns using the filing status of “married filing jointly.” As part of the plea agreement, the defendant acknowledged that she also underreported taxable income for the tax year 2006, and agreed to pay the full amount of tax owed to the federal government for both tax years. At least $118,248.00 in taxable income for the tax year 2006 was not reported and at least $150,875.00 in taxable income for the tax year 2007 was not reported. The failure to report that taxable income led to an additional federal tax owing of $31,301.00 and $47,428.00, respectively, totaling $78,729.00. This figure does not include penalties and interest that may be assessed by the IRS, or taxes due and owing to New York State and the State of Pennsylvania.

The indictment resulted from an investigation conducted by the Internal Revenue Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin P. Dooley of the Binghamton office. Inquiries can be directed to AUSA Dooley at (607) 773-2887.