Danbury Roofing Business Owner Sentenced For Filing False Tax Returns

DANBURY, CT — A Danbury roofing contractor was sentenced Wednesday to two years of probation, including six months of home detention, after underreporting more than $1.3 million in business revenue on his federal income tax returns, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut.

Mark Edwards, 61, was also ordered to pay a $25,000 fine and perform 100 hours of community service.

Federal prosecutors said Edwards has owned and operated Mark Edwards Roofing and Siding, LLC since approximately 1998.

Edwards failed to maintain accurate business records or perform bookkeeping beginning as early as 2018, according to court documents and statements made in court.

Instead, prosecutors said, Edwards provided his tax preparer with handwritten income and expense figures that substantially understated his business income.

Between the 2019 and 2023 tax years, Edwards underreported his business's gross receipts by at least $1.3 million, resulting in a tax loss of $368,334 to the IRS, prosecutors said.

Edwards has since paid $368,334 in restitution to the IRS, although he still faces additional tax penalties and interest.

He pleaded guilty March 25 to aiding in the preparation of a false tax return.