Branford Business Owner Pleads Guilty To Not Paying Taxes

GUILFORD, CT — A Branford-based construction company owner pleaded guilty to not paying required federal taxes and agreed to pay more than $2 million in restitution to the Internal Revneue Service.

Christopher Jardine, 55, of Guilford is a part owner of D&A Construction Management Inc. and was responsible for the company’s financial affairs, according to the U.S. Attorney District of Connecticut office.

An investigation found that Jardine withheld employee’s federal income, Medicare and social security taxes from 2016 to 2019, but didn’t pay them over to the federal government., according to the U.S. Attorney office. The total withheld amount was about $868,000.

Jardine told the Internal Revenue Service that the company lacked the ability to pay the taxes, but he used millions of dollars in company funds for lavish personal expenses, including a 52-foot boat, a Range Rover and high-end clothing.

He pleaded guilty to one count of willful failure to pay over withholding taxes. As part of the plea agreement, he admitted to not paying personal income tax liabilities for multiple tax years between 2007 and 2015. He has agreed to pay more than $2 million in restitution to the IRS; to date, he has paid nearly $1.2 million in restitution.