New York Construction Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Filing False Return

Department of Justice - Press Release Number: 23-577

Did Not Report Nearly $6.1 Million in Business Gross Receipts

A New York man pleaded guilty today to filing a false corporate tax return for his construction business.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Pawel A. Bartoszek of Lake Grove, New York, owned and operated a construction company, Mega State Inc. From 2015 through 2017, Bartoszek cashed checks he received from Mega State clients for services rendered rather than depositing them in the company’s bank account. As a result, Bartoszek concealed approximately $6.1 million in business income from his tax return preparer and caused the tax returns for Mega State submitted to the IRS to falsely understate its gross income.

Bartoszek is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 26 and faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York made the announcement.

IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

Trial Attorneys Ann M. Cherry and Catriona Coppler of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case.

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