Norfolk County Paving Company Owner Sentenced In Tax Evasion Case

WEYMOUTH, MA — The former owner of a Massachusetts paving company was sentenced to one year and one day in prison after he underreported income on his personal taxes for seven consecutive years, the Department of Justice announced.

Robert Brainard, 52, of Weymouth, was sentenced this week for tax evasion and was ordered to pay nearly $785,000 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service for unpaid income and employment taxes. He pled guilty to the tax evasion charge on July 25.

According to officials, Brainard, the former owner of Got Pavement Needs, Inc., underreported income on his personal tax returns for tax years 2014 through 2021, resulting in an income tax loss of more than $593,000.

To hide his control of the business, officials said, Brainard transferred ownership of his company in a "straw sale", while maintaining control over the company’s operations and income. Officials say he used his "illicit tax savings" to fund an off-the-books, cash payroll, for which he also did not pay employment taxes.

When his sentence is over, Brainard will also be required to complete one year of supervised release.