A former New Bedford, Massachusetts, seafood wholesaler pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to failing to file tax returns and filing a false tax return for his business.
George F. Estudante, who owned Basic Fisheries, failed to file an income tax return for 2010, even though his business received more than USD 1.4 million (EUR 1.2 million) in payments, the U.S. District Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts said in a statement.
U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled Estudante’s sentencing for 13 March, 2018.
The DA’s office said that Estudante also failed to file a tax return for 2011, although his business received approximately USD 1.6 million (EUR 1.3 million) in payments that year. In addition, Estudante falsely swore on his 2012 tax return that he had received approximately USD 533,000 (EUR 449,000) in gross receipts when his bank account reflected that he had received more than USD 740,000 (EUR 623,000).
Estudante could be charged with up to one year in prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine of USD 25,000 (EUR 21,000) for failing to file tax returns. He could also be sentenced up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine of USD 100,000 (EUR 84,000) for filing false tax returns, the DA’s office said.
