Joseph Cipolla Jr., a 39-year-old resident of Bloomingdale in DuPage County, has been sentenced to nine years in prison after being convicted of tax evasion, wire fraud, and mail fraud.
Tax Evasion Scheme Unveiled
Cipolla failed to file individual income tax returns from 2015 to 2020, resulting in unpaid taxes totaling $415,043 to the IRS and $75,045 to the State of Illinois. He employed various tactics to conceal his income, including using a relative’s Social Security number on casino tax forms and employing family members as nominee owners of vehicles.
Exploiting Relief Programs
In 2020, Cipolla exploited the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) established under the CARES Act. He fraudulently obtained four loans amounting to over $1.18 million by falsifying tax documents submitted to lenders.
Legal Proceedings and Restitution
Following his guilty plea in 2023, Cipolla was ordered to pay $2,096,285 in restitution to the IRS, State of Illinois, U.S. Small Business Administration, and other affected entities and individuals. This sentence reflects the severity of his fraudulent activities and their impact on both government agencies and small businesses.
Sources:
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- United States Department of Justice
<a href=”https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/bloomingdale-man-gets-9-years-in-prison-for-tax-evasion-fraud”>Source</a>
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