The co-owner of a Newington landscaping company, who was convicted of tax evasion in January, was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court in Hartford to three years of probation and ordered to pay a $1.75 million fine.
According to authorities, 61-year-old Anthony Niro of Newington was a co-owner of A. Niro Landscape Contractors Inc., which provided landscaping and snowplowing services to residential and commercial customers.
His wife, Nanette Niro, was the bookkeeper for the business.
From 2006 to 2010, Anthony Niro, his business partner, and Nanette Niro avoided paying both corporate and individual income taxes by having business receipts deposited into two checking accounts and then using the money in the accounts for their personal use, authorities said.
According to authorities, Anthony Niro, his business partner and Nanette Niro failed to provide information about these accounts to the person who prepared the landscaping company’s federal income tax returns.
Between 2006 and 2010 tax years, the Niros failed to report more than $7.8 million in income, resulting in a tax loss to the IRS of $1.45 million, according to authorities. Â
Anthony Niro has paid restitution of $1.47 million to the IRS, and has forfeited $127,300. He is still required to pay interest and penalties to the IRS.
During the sentencing, U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams said he took Niro’s medical condition and family circumstances into consideration when imposing the sentence.
Nanette Niro, who pleaded guilty to tax evasion on Jan. 9, five days after her husband, awaits sentencing.
