New Bedford Seafood Wholesaler Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

BOSTON – A former New Bedford seafood wholesaler pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to failing to file tax returns and filing a false tax return for his business’ income.

George F. Estudante, 57, formerly of Marion, Mass., pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to file tax returns and one count of filing a false income tax return. U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for March 13, 2018.

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.

The charge of failing to file an income tax return provides for a sentence of no greater than one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $25,000. The charge of filing a false income tax return provides for a sentence of no greater than three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $100,000.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States William D. Weinreb 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 Weinreb’s Economic Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

-U.S. Attorney's Office