Former Police Commissioner De Sousa Sentenced To Federal Prison

BALTIMORE, MD — Former Baltimore Police Commissioner Darryl De Sousa will serve 10 months in federal prison. He pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to file individual federal tax returns.

De Sousa, 54, of Baltimore, resigned from his post as police commissioner for the Baltimore Police Department on May 15, 2018, after news broke of the misdemeanor charges.

“As a law enforcement officer, Darryl DeSousa knew that he had a duty to file tax returns. His failure to file was a crime — not an oversight,” U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur said in a statement. “Corrupt public employees rip off the taxpayers and undermine everyone’s faith in government.”

After serving 10 months in prison, De Sousa will be on supervised release for one year, must perform 100 hours of community service and will have to pay restitution to the government in the full amount of the government’s loss: $67,587.72, U.S. District Court Judge Catherine C. Blake ruled on Friday, March 29.

Officials said that considering payments he has already made, he still owes $60,645.10.

“This investigation confirms the principle that no one is above the law,” Acting FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jennifer L. Moore said in a statement. “The FBI will continue to work tirelessly to make sure those in a position of power uphold the law and are held to the highest standards.”

De Sousa, who worked for the Baltimore Police Department since 1998, admitted to the following, prosecutors said:

• He falsely claimed nine allowances when on his Employee’s Withholding Exemption Certificate (W-4) in June 1999, substantially reducing taxes withheld from his salary each year.
• In his tax filings from 2008 through 2012, he falsely claimed deductions for which he was not entitled, including "unreimbursed employee expenses when he had no such expenses, mortgage interest deductions and deductions for local property taxes when he did not have a mortgage or own any real property, and business losses when he did not operate any businesses," prosecutors said.
• He did not file tax returns for 2011 and 2012 and did not do so until 2014, at which point he also falsely claimed unreimbursed employee expenses and donations to charity. He failed to pay penalties and interest on late-filed returns despite the IRS instructing him to do so.
• He had not filed taxes for 2013, 2014 or 2015 as of May 5, 2018. For the nine allowances he falsely claimed, De Sousa owed additional money to the state and federal government, of which he admitted he was aware.

“The prosecution of those who willfully violate their known duty of filing and paying their fair share is a vital element of the IRS’ enforcement strategy," said Kelly Jackson, IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge. "IRS-CI works hard to ensure faith in our tax laws."

RELATED:

• Former Police Commissioner Darryl De Sousa Enters Plea For Taxes
• Mayor Pugh: We Will Better Vet Police Commanders
• Baltimore Police Commissioner Faces Federal Charges
• De Sousa Ordered To Surrender Guns, Passport: Reports
• Baltimore Police Commissioner Resigns

Darryl De Sousa enters court to learn if he is going to prison. pic.twitter.com/a1GA7LBBdD
— Paul McGrew (@McGrewFox45) March 29, 2019