Houston business owner admits to failing to pay over $1.6 million in taxes

Editor's Note:
This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.   

HOUSTON - A former certified public accountant has pleaded guilty for failing to pay taxes withheld from employee wages, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. 

Harry Lamar Curtis III was the owner of Information Advisory Group LLC, a cybersecurity and IT company based in Houston. As such, he was required to withhold and pay over all employment taxes withheld from employee paychecks. These included federal income taxes, FICA taxes and employer matching amounts. 

As part of his plea, Curtis admitted that despite being trained as a CPA, he failed to file any business tax returns for IAG since 2016. He improperly withheld $1,647,142 over this time period that was due to the IRS.

Curtis also admitted he had not filed any individual tax returns for himself since 2008. 

U.S. District Judge Sim Lake will impose sentencing Feb. 12, 2026. At that time, Curtis faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

IRS-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Gray is prosecuting the case.