An Enfield restaurant owner has pled guilty to tax evasion after he admitted his wrongdoing to an undercover IRS agent.
George Carabase, 41, of Enfield, waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty to two counts of tax evasion. During the investigation, Carabase admitted to an undercover IRS agent that he understated the restaurant’s gross receipts on his income tax returns and provided false numbers to his accountant.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2010 and 2011 Carabase failed to report to the IRS approximately $550,000 in gross receipts generated by Buona Vita Restaurant, a restaurant he operates in Enfield.
In pleading guilty, Carbase admitted that he evaded payment of a total of $183,282 in income taxes when filing his income tax returns for 2010 and 2011. Sentencing is scheduled for May 20, at which time Carabase faces up to five years in prison and a fine of $100,000 on each count.
As part of his guilty plea, Carabase has agreed to pay $208,132 in back taxes and interest, as well as applicable penalties, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s office.
