GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN - Thomas Richard Fulger, age 65, of Lansing, Michigan, was sentenced to 9 months imprisonment and 1 year of supervised release for willfully filing false tax returns for the tax year 2005, U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Miles, Jr. announced today. U.S. Attorney Miles was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Erick Martinez, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
In addition, U.S. District Judge Janet T. Neff also ordered Fulger to pay a special assessment of $200 and restitution to the Internal Revenue Service of $139,988.
According to court records, Fulger who is the owner of United Courier Service in Lansing, evaded taxes by routinely under-reporting his S Corporate income and under-reporting his individual income on the corresponding federal income tax returns. For 2005, Fulger reported his personal gross income was negative $23,123 when in fact his true gross income was $293,750.
In addition to pleading guilty to filing false tax returns for the tax year 2005, the defendant admitted that he deliberately failed to pay $139,988 in taxes between 2004 and 2007. In addition to a sentence of 9 months’ imprisonment, the defendant will be required to pay his unpaid tax balance.
“Fulger’s sentence emphasizes the importance that everyone must honestly report their income," said Special Agent in Charge Erick Martinez. “IRS Criminal Investigation will investigate individuals that deliberately file false returns and there are severe consequences for those who violate the law."
The investigation of this case was conducted by special agents of the Internal Revenue Service, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rene Shekmer.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
