Co-Owner Of Italian Village Pizza Stores Sentenced For Skimming Cash From Businesses And Evading Taxes

PITTSBURGH – An Allegheny County business owner has been sentenced in federal court to four years probation, which will include one year of home confinement, and ordered to pay a $45,000 fine, on his conviction of conspiracy and tax evasion, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Senior United States District Judge Gustave Diamond imposed the sentence on John R. Miller of South Park, Pennsylvania.

According to information presented to the court, Miller and his partner, Frank Veltri, owned certain Italian Village pizza stores, and licensed the Italian Village name to owners of other stores. Miller and Veltri skimmed cash from the businesses which was not reported as income, and also did not report license fees paid in cash by some of the 15 to 20 licensees. Some expenses were also paid in cash, and not reported on the tax returns, in order to maintain an appropriate balance between sales and expenses.

The stipulated tax loss for Miller was $92,916. The criminal tax loss includes both the amounts owed to the IRS for personal tax due (Form 1040) and employment tax due for the businesses (Form 941). At the time of sentencing, Miller had paid this amount to the government, as well as interest and penalties.

Assistant United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Internal Revenue Service for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Miller.