Northbrook Man Conspired To Evade Taxes For Over A Decade

NORTHBROOK, IL — A Northbrook man conspired for more than a decade to carry out a fraud scheme that cost the taxpayers more than $24 million in federal tax revenue. The bookkeeper and office manager for multiple companies admitted preparing and filing fraudulent tax returns for two Northbrook-based staffing companies between 2000 and 2010 and later falsifying his own returns, according to a plea agreement released on Tax Day by the Department of Justice.

Barry R. Poticha, 73, of the 2500 block of Essex Drive, pleaded guilty Monday after he was charged with a tax fraud conspiracy on April 6. He admitted falsifying information that was provided to the IRS in quarterly reports from the two companies and providing employees with faked W-2 forms.

When employees discovered discrepancies in the forms, he produced letters on company letterhead to try to hide his fraud, according to the plea agreement.

In addition to costing the federal government $24,450,608 in tax losses, Poticha admitted to falsifying his own personal income tax returns from 2010 to 2015. That defrauded the IRS out of $341,621 and Illinois out of $32,604.

The offenses to which Poticha pleaded guilty carry with them a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 – or the significantly higher amount of twice the gross loss resulting from the offense.

The two temporary staffing companies where Poticha worked shared office space and administrative personnel in Northbrook after moving there from Chicago in 2009, according to prosecutors. Company representatives could not be reached for comment.

A message left for Poticha Tuesday was not immediately returned.