Federal Jury Finds Pittsburgh-Area Man Guilty of Defrauding Investors of $2 Million, Tax Evasion

PITTSBURGH - After deliberating seven hours, a federal jury of eight men and four women yesterday found Albert P. Majkowski, Jr. guilty of three counts of wire fraud, two counts of tax evasion and two counts of a lesser included offense of failure to file a tax return, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Majkowski, Jr., 59, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was tried before United States District Judge Reggie B. Walton in Pittsburgh.

According to evidence presented at trial established that Majkowski defrauded potential investors of nearly $2 million over a five-year period by, among other things, making false statements about his own success in “incubating” start-up businesses and misrepresenting that investor monies’ would be used only for legitimate business expenses. He also evaded his income tax obligations for the years 2009 through 2010 by a variety of means including failing to file tax returns, putting his assets into the names of other persons and cashing a series of checks made out in blank. Additionally, he failed to file income tax returns for the years 2007 through 2008. The total loss for the tax charges was $181,456.

Judge Walton scheduled sentencing for May 25, 2018 at 2 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 27 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or both, for each wire fraud count and up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or both, for each count of tax evasion. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based on the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Pending sentencing, the court revoked the defendant’s bond.

Assistant United States Attorneys James Wilson and Shardul Desai are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations, and the United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Majkowski.