Bergen County, N.J., Dentist, Owner Of Three Dental Practices, Sentenced To 21 Months In Prison For Tax Evasion, Bankruptcy Fraud

CAMDEN, N.J. – A Bergen County, N.J., dentist and owner of three dental practices in Bergen and Monmouth counties, was sentenced today to 21 months in prison for evading more than $800,000 in taxes and failing to disclose almost $1.3 million in income in a bankruptcy petition, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Stephen A. Beukas, 47, of Mahwah, N.J., previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Renee Marie Bumb to an information charging him with one count each of tax evasion and bankruptcy fraud. Judge Bumb imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

From early 2005 through 2008, Beukas was a practicing dentist and the sole owner of Stephen Beukas, DMD, PA (SBPA), New Jersey Mobile Dental Practice PA (MDPA) and Mobile Dental Practice PC (MDPC), which were dental practices located in Wyckoff, N.J, and Colts Neck, N.J. MDPA performed dental services for senior citizens and others who resided in nursing homes throughout New Jersey.

For the years 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, Beukas intentionally failed to provide the IRS with accurate information on the $2.6 million income he received as owner of the three practices. On Sept. 12, 2009, Beukas filed a tax return in which he falsely stated that his total income for the calendar year 2006 was $632,945, and that the tax owed was $187,905. Beukas failed to file timely tax returns in 2005, 2007, and 2008. His failure to disclose correct information to the IRS resulted in a tax loss to the U.S. of $800,309.

In 2008, when Beukas filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, he also failed to disclose almost $1.3 million in income he received as the sole owner of MDPC.

In addition to his prison term, Judge Bumb sentenced Beukas to two years of supervised release, fined him $50,000 and ordered him to pay $69,883 in restitution to the bankruptcy trustee for distribution to creditors.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Shantelle P. Kitchen; and Region 3 U.S. Trustee Roberta DeAngelis and the Newark office of the U.S. Trustee, for the investigation leading to today’s sentence.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Mendelsohn of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.

This case was brought in coordination with President Barack Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. The task force was established to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. Attorneys’ offices and state and local partners, it’s the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Over the past three fiscal years, the Justice Department has filed nearly 10,000 financial fraud cases against nearly 15,000 defendants including more than 2,900 mortgage fraud defendants. For more information on the task force, please visit www.stopfraud.gov

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Defense counsel: Rocco C. Cipparone Jr. Esq., Haddon Heights, N.J.