Union County Man Convicted Of Tax Evasion, Failing To File Tax Returns

SPRINGFIELD, NJ — A Union County man was convicted of tax evasion and failing to file personal income tax returns, announced authorities.

Jonathan D. Michael of Springfield, was convicted of one count of tax evasion, from 2014 through 2018, and five counts of failing to file tax returns during the same period, said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger and Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division on Wednesday.

From 2014 through 2018, Michael worked as a mechanic by a port-operating company in New Jersey earning more than $1.4 million.

In February 2014, he submitted a form to his employer that falsely claimed he was completely exempt from federal income tax withholding. This caused the employer to stop withholding federal income taxes from his wages, according to documents filed in this case and statements made in court.

In November 2016, the IRS sent Michael a notification that he was not entitled to claim exempt status and Michael wrote the company and claimed that his false W-4 was correct, according to authorities.

"Despite earning income each year over the threshold that would require him to file individual income tax returns, Michael failed to file such tax returns with the IRS for the years 2014 through 2018," said Sellinger.

Michael faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for tax evasion; and a maximum penalty of one year per count in Counts Two through Six.

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