NEWARK, N.J. - A Newark woman today admitted evading taxes while operating her political fundraising and consulting business in 2015, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.
Linda O. Jumah, 35, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares in Newark federal court to an information charging her with one count of tax evasion. She was released on $75,000 unsecured bond.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
As owner of Elite Strategies LLC, Jumah intentionally under-reported income that she received from the business for tax year 2015 by filing a false federal personal income tax return. Jumah admitted that after sharing proceeds with a business partner, she under-reported $121,941 in income for the 2015 tax year, resulting in a tax loss of $39,633.
The tax evasion charge carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 14, 2018.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited special agents of IRS - Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan D. Larsen; the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher in Newark; and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christina Scaringi, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacques S. Pierre and Jihee G. Suh of the Special Prosecutions Division in Newark.
Defense counsel: Robert G. Stahl Esq., Westfield, New Jersey.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
