DAVENPORT, IA-- On Aug. 12, 2019, Nirander Kumar, age 66, from Bettendorf, Iowa, pled guilty to Failure to Pay Employment Taxes announced United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum. This crime carries a maximum potential penalty of not more than 5 years’ imprisonment, up to a $10,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than (3) three years, and a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victims Fund. Kumar’s sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 19, 2019.
On or about July 31, 2014, Nirander Kumar had a duty and was responsible for paying withheld employment taxes on behalf of Jai Mata Lakshmi, doing business as Embers of Phoenix. Jai Mata Lakshmi operated two businesses at the same Davenport location Echelon Sports Bar, and Embers of Phoenix. In violation of federal tax laws, Kumar willfully failed to pay the second quarter 2014 withheld employment taxes due on behalf of Jai Mata Lakshmi. In total, Kumar admitted to willfully failing to pay approximately $187,000 in employment taxes withheld from Jai Mata Lakshmi employees. Additionally, as part of his plea agreement, Kumar also admitted that he willfully failed to pay over $234,000 of employment taxes withheld from employees’ pay at Bettendorf Pediatric; and over $39,000 in employment taxes for another business, Funky Desi, in Moline, Illinois.
This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa, and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
