Long-Time Houston Physician Ordered to Prison for Tax Evasion
HOUSTON – A local doctor who practiced in Houston for more than 30 years has been sent to federal prison following his conviction on of one count of tax evasion, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick along with Special Agent in Charge D. Richard Goss of IRS – Criminal Investigation. Edward J. Crouse pleaded guilty Aug. 28, 2018.
Today, U.S. District Judge Rosenthal ordered Crouse to Prison for 18 months to be immediately followed by one year of supervised release. He paid restitution of $678,103 prior to today’s hearing.
Crouse acknowledged in the plea agreement that he had not timely filed a U.S. individual income tax return since 1997. The plea agreement states that Crouse earned more than $4.4 million in years 2009 through 2012.
Crouse admitted in his signed plea agreement that he consistently committed numerous affirmative acts of tax evasion over the years to conceal his true income from the IRS, including concealing the complete business records of his medical practice for calendar years 2006 through 2012 from his bookkeeping and tax return preparation firm. Crouse also admitted he signed an IRS Collection form on or about May 1, 2010, in which he understated the amount of his income from his medical practice available for payment of taxes and household expenditures.
Crouse agreed that the total intended tax loss in his case was approximately $678,103.00, counting both unpaid U.S. Individual Income Taxes and the amounts of federal taxes and FICA that Crouse withheld from the wages of the employees of his medical practice but did not pay over to the IRS.
IRS-CI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles J. Escher is prosecuting the case.