A Seattle real estate owner was sentenced on July 17 to 20 months in prison for six counts of tax evasion and six counts of filing false tax returns, according to an announcement from First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Steven T. Loo, age 70, was convicted after a nine-day jury trial in June and July 2025 for failing to report more than $4.7 million in income.
U.S. District Judge Lauren King imposed the sentence along with a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release following the prison term. The court also ordered Loo to pay prosecution expenses totaling about $5,300.
“Mr. Loo made a sustained, willful decision to evade taxes. The only thing that explains that is greed,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “A man who amasses $43 million in wealth can afford to pay his taxes — just like the 85% of us who pay our taxes fully and on time.” Carrie Nordyke, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Seattle Field Office, said, “While many small business owners strive for financial security, Mr. Loo spent years deliberately evading taxes to increase his personal wealth. This outcome ensures he is held accountable and required to meet his tax obligations.”
Court records and trial testimony showed that Loo owned multiple commercial properties in western Washington and California operated through various limited liability companies (LLCs). He directed property management companies managing these properties to send profits into two bank accounts belonging to shell companies he controlled since their establishment in Washington in 1999. Prosecutors presented evidence that this income—over $4.7 million—was not reported on his tax returns over a twenty-year period; instead, Loo claimed no tax liability and requested net refunds from the Internal Revenue Service.
Prosecutors argued at sentencing that “Loo is living the American dream yet believes he has no obligation to pay the taxes that support our nation,” adding: “Loo was not content with merely failing to report his income… When Loo’s luck ran out and an IRS criminal investigator knocked on his door, he continued his deception by trotting out a fairy tale about using imaginary losses to offset his income.”
Loo has already paid back taxes amounting to $1,603,686 owed to the IRS.
The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mike Dion and Sean Waite for the Western District of Washington along with Trial Attorney Regina Jeon from the Department of Justice Criminal Division.
The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington handles federal prosecutions and civil litigation across areas including Seattle and Tacoma as part of the U.S Department of Justice; it operates offices in both cities with approximately 85 attorneys and 70 support staff while promoting community safety through programs addressing gun violence and online threats, according to its official website.