Delaware man fined $1.2M for withholding tax contributions

(AP) – A Delaware business owner who pleaded guilty in March to withholding employee tax contributions has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.

News outlets cite a Monday announcement by the U.S. Department of Justice that says 55-year-old Jeffrey Minner also was ordered to pay $1.2 million in restitution. The Justice Department said Minner withheld taxes from employees from 2011 through 2016, but failed to pay that money to the Internal Revenue Service. Minner operated several janitorial service companies including J.E.M. Enterprises, Inc., Service Master and Advanced Enterprises, Inc.

Court documents say federal prosecutors said Minner “relied on the government to finance his luxurious lifestyle,” which included a 4,175-square-foot (387-sq.-meter) home, a 28-foot (8-meter) boat and luxury cars. Addressing the court, Minner blamed the 2008 financial crash for his decisions.