Periodontist Pleads Guilty To Filing A False Tax Return

PITTSBURGH - A Pittsburgh man pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of filing a false income tax return, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Periodontist Charles W. Schwimer, pleaded guilty to a one-count information before United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in March of 2010 Schwimer filed a false income tax return for the year 2009. The return was false in that Schwimer had included approximately $29,000 in deductions for business expenses in connection with his dental practice on his tax return, which were in fact purely personal expenditures that were not business related, such as condo fees, personal auto insurance, landscaping, utility and home cleaning expenses. The return was also false in that he failed to report cash that he had received directly from his employees who in turn had received cash payments from the patients of his dental practice.

Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for Sept. 24 at 8:30 am. The law provides for a total sentence of no more than three years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Pending sentencing, the court released Mr. Schwimer on $10,000 bail.

The Internal Revenue Service/Criminal Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Schwimer.