BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division announced today that Dorian Wills, 52, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of tax evasion, was sentenced to serve 37 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. The defendant was also ordered to pay $1,466,330.05 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.
According to documents and information provided to the court, from April 2010 through October 2013, Wills operated a debt collection business under a variety of different names. The business engaged in illegal collection practices, including making threatening and harassing phone calls and collecting on debt that did not exist or debt to which the collection companies did not have title. To conceal his involvement in the business, the defendant directed two individuals to incorporate companies in their names in Georgia and Ohio, and to open bank accounts in the names of those companies. Wills then used these corporate entities to operate his debt collection business.
During 2011 through 2013, the defendant earned significant income from his debt collection activities. However, Wills sought to hide his income and evade assessment of his income tax liabilities by using nominees to hide his ownership of his debt collection businesses and filing false tax returns. The defendant also did not file tax returns at all for 2011 and 2013. In total, Wills’ conduct caused a tax loss of over $1,200,000.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Kennedy thanked special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, AUSA Marie P. Grisanti, and Tax Division Trial Attorneys Jason M. Scheff and Thomas F. Koelbl, who are prosecuting the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website. #
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
