BOSTON — A former New Bedford seafood wholesaler was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for failing to file tax returns and filing a false tax return for his business’ income.

George F. Estudante, 57, formerly of Marion, Mass., was sentenced to one year and one day in prison, one year of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution of $105,357. In December 2017, Estudante pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to file tax returns and one count of filing a false income tax return.

Estudante failed to file an income tax return for 2010, even though his business, Basic Fisheries, received approximately $1,418,629 in payments. He also failed to file a tax return for 2011, although his business received approximately $1,607,726 in payments that year. Furthermore, Estudante falsely swore on his 2012 tax return that he had received approximately $533,078 in gross receipts when his bank account reflected that he had received over $740,000.

United States Andrew E. Lelling and Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen P. Heymann of Lelling’s Economic Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

--U.S. Attorney's Office

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