PITTSBURGH - A resident of Presto, Pa., has been sentenced in federal court to five years of probation, including 24 months of home detention, and a $10,000 fine plus 500 hours of community service, on his conviction of federal income tax evasion, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
United States District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Donald J. DeBlasio, 69. According to information presented to the court, as the owner of DeBlasio's, defendant engaged in the practice of "skimming" cash from restaurant sales, resulting in a total tax loss of $341,128.62 from the filing of false personal, corporate and payroll tax returns during the years 2007-2009.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Cercone stated that he has “long felt that under-payment of taxes is one of the most serious problems in our country, but [the defendant’s] age is a factor and not every case warrants incarceration."
Assistant United States Attorney Leo M. Dillon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of DeBlasio.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
