A New Bedford Fisherman Was Given A Sentence For Omitting To Pay $431,000 In Federal Taxes

For avoiding more than $431,000 in federal income taxes over the course of seven years, a New Bedford man was given a sentence in federal court in Boston.

On May 9, Victor M. Cruz, 43, was given a sentence of time served (10 months in jail), followed by one year of supervised release, by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel. Cruz was also required to pay the IRS $431,835 in reparation. Cruz entered a guilty plea to three counts of tax evasion on February 12, 2023.

Cruz worked as a crew member on different fishing vessels from 2015 to 2017, earning between $183,000 and $212,000 each year, but he never filed federal tax returns for any of the years.

A New Bedford Fisherman Was Given A Sentence For Omitting To Pay $431,000 In Federal Taxes

Cruz had also previously neglected to submit federal income tax forms while earning at least $150,000 per year from 2010 through 2014.

The tweet below verifies the news of sentence.

Cruz neglected to file any federal tax returns and used other steps to prevent authorities from tracking down his income or estimating his tax liabilities, despite receiving at least two notifications from the Internal Revenue Service instructing him to file returns and pay back taxes that were past due.

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Cruz avoided paying over $431,000 in federal taxes in total, not including late payment fines and interest.The statement was made on Thursday by Boston-based Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation office special agent Joleen D. Simpson and United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A. Wild of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit.

According to IRS authorities, tax compliance is over 84% nationwide but lowers to 65% for the fishing business.

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