Former Wisconsin Produce Vendor Executive Sentenced To Prison For Tax Evasion | WPN World People News

A former corporate officer of a produce vendor in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin was sentenced to 18 months in prison for tax evasion, on May 10, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Scott C. Blader for the Western District of Wisconsin.

According to court documents and information provided to the court, Thomas G. Paine was the Vice President and Treasurer of G.W. Paine Inc., which sold fresh fruit and other produce under the business name Tree Ripe Citrus Company. Paine was responsible for the finance and tax aspects of the business, but failed to file corporate tax returns for tax years 1997 through 2012 and concealed the business’ income from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by structuring cash bank deposits in amounts less than $10,000 to evade bank reporting requirements. Paine admitted to causing a tax loss between $250,000 and $550,000.

In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Court Judge James D. Peterson ordered Paine to serve two years supervised release and to pay restitution of $421,621.99.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice