Prison Sentence For Stamford Refuse Collector In IRS Case: Feds

STAMFORD, CT — The 72-year-old owner/operator of a Stamford-based refuse collection company was sentenced to 18 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for failing to file tax returns, announced United States Attorney John H. Durham Wednesday.

Wayne Margarum, Sr., of Stamford, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford. He was accused of not filing tax returns since 2004, and pleaded guilty a year ago to two counts of willful failure to file an income tax return.

Margarum owned and operated his business, Margarum Refuse, for more than 40 years, providing garbage removal services for customers in the Stamford area and parts of Westchester County, according to prosecutors and court documents.

The business services between 600 and 700 clients, who pay fees ranging from $25 to $60 per month.

Prior to sentencing, Margarum paid $25,000 in taxes owed, but he still owes approximately $330,000 in back taxes, plus interest and penalties.

Margarum, who had been free on bond, was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following the court proceeding to begin his sentence.

This matter was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.