Piedmont Man Pleads Guilty to Tax Charges

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Piedmont, South Dakota, man has pleaded guilty in federal court to Failure to Withhold, Properly Account For, and Pay Over Tax and Concealment of Bankruptcy Assets.

Bernard Haag, age 57, was charged on January 26, 2016.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on February 12, 2016, and pleaded guilty pursuant to a plea agreement reached with federal prosecutors.  The maximum penalty for each count is 5 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The charges relate to Haag willingly failing to pay over taxes and concealing income from a bankruptcy trustee.  The investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division.   Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Patterson is prosecuting the case.  

Haag was released during the pendency of the proceedings.     ##