Trumbull Woman's False Tax Return Resulted in $92k Tax Loss, U.S. Attorney

A Trumbull woman pleaded guilty in U.S. District court to filing false tax returns after she deposited more than $350,000 in cash to her personal bank account instead of to her business account.

Maria Pinheiro, 57, owns and operates the Dolphin’s Cove Marina, a seafood restaurant in Bridgeport.

According to court documents and statements made in court, she admitted to depositing some of the cash receipts from the business into her personal checking account instead of the business account. She is the sole shareholder and bookkeeper at the restaurant.

She didn’t provide her personal bank records to firms that prepared the federal tax return for the restaurant.

All told she deposited $352,437 in cash to her personal account between 2007 and 2009. The tax loss was $92,251.

Some deposits were for less than the $10,001 in order to evade bank currency transaction reporting requirements, according to the U.S. Attorney District of Connecticut office.

She pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false tax return. She faces a maximum of three years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.

She has agreed to pay $243,956.98 in back taxes, interest and penalties.