West Orange Business Owner Admits Tax Evasion, Faces Possible Jail Term: Prosecutor

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The owner of a consulting services company has admitted evading taxes while operating his business in 2009, prosecutors say.

On Monday, Oscar N. James Sr., 60, of West Orange, pleaded guilty before a U.S. District Court judge in Newark federal court to tax evasion, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office (New Jersey).

According to court documents and statements, as the owner of The James Group, James intentionally under-reported the income that he received for tax years 2008 and 2009 by filing false federal personal income tax returns. James admitted that he was responsible for underreporting $173,796 in income for the 2009 tax year, resulting in a tax loss of $61,046, prosecutors said.

The tax evasion charge carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is currently scheduled for Jan. 11, 2018, prosecutors said.

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