Bethel Landscaping Biz Owner Pleads Guilty To Tax Evasion: Feds

BETHEL, CT — A Bethel man who runs a local landscape business pleaded guilty today on Monday to one count of tax evasion, according to a statement from the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut.

Timothy Draper, 54, waived his right to be indicted and made the plea in federal court in Hartford.

Draper owns and operates T&M Lawn & Landscape, and also owns multiple residential rental properties in Bethel and Danbury, according to the statement. He underreported approximately $1.8 million in business receipts on his tax returns for the 2015 through 2017 tax years.

The U.S. Attorney's Office is also reporting that Draper paid personal expenses out of the business accounts and failed to categorize such payments as income to him. The underreporting of income resulted in the underpayment of more than $500,000 in income taxes for the three tax years. He has paid $1,117,883.11 in back taxes, interest and penalties.

Draper is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.