Stoneham Trash Hauler Sentenced to Probation for Evading Over $200k in Taxes

STONEHAM, MA—The owner of Stoneham-based Sinclair Trucking has been sentenced after pleading guilty to evading over $200,00 in taxes Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Boston.

According to a release from the U.S. Attorney's office, Robert Sinclair, 72, of Stoneham was sentenced to as sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns to two years of probation, the first six months of which is to be served in home confinement, and ordered to perform 250 hours of community service. Sinclair also has agreed to pay the tax loss of $239,446 plus interest and penalties to the IRS

According to the release Sinclair had reported only amounts he had been paid by customers who provided 1099 forms, and not the payments from customers who didn't. Investigation revealed that Sinclair under-reported more than $800,000 in gross receipts.

Further investigation found that Sinclair falsely told IRS agents that discrepancies were due to cash loans from a relative, when in fact, all of the deposits into the business bank account during these tax years were checks from customers, according to the release.