Hidden Gambling Gains Net Howell Man 18-Month Federal Prison Term

HOWELL, NJ — A Howell man who ran an illegal gambling business was sentenced Tuesday to 18 months in prison for filing a false tax return, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Steven Bryce, 52, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson to a count in an indictment charging him with subscribing to a false tax return.

As part of his plea agreement, Bryce agreed to pay full restitution of $338,885 to the IRS for tax losses resulting from false tax returns filed by Bryce for calendar years 2011 to 2016.

U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi imposed the sentence on Tuesday, Sept. 20, in Trenton federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: In 2013, Bryce operated an illegal gambling business. On July 14, 2014, Bryce filed with the IRS U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, Form 1040, for the calendar year 2013 on behalf of himself and his spouse, which falsely stated that they had total income of $112,899.

The 2013 tax return was not true and correct: Bryce received significant income from his gambling business, and, as a result, had income substantially in excess of the amount he reported.

In addition to the prison term, Quraishi sentenced Bryce to one year of supervised release and a $50,000 fine, as well as the $338,885 in restitution.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the IRS-Criminal Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins, and special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the sentencing.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara F. Merin and J Fortier Imbert of the Special Prosecutions Division in Newark. Defense counsel is Edward C. Bertuccio Hamilton.