Tax Case Results in Probation, Restitution Order and Fine for Former Dauphin County Business Owner

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The former owner of several Dauphin County businesses was sentenced on November 17, 2015, to five years of probation and ordered to pay $100,174.51 in restitution after pleading no contest to 62 counts of state tax offenses, the Department of Revenue announced today.

Paul M. Biko, the former owner and principal officer of Bruster's of Central Pennsylvania, LLC; Strategic Market Resources, LLC; and Luxury Limousine of Harrisburg, LLC, now-defunct businesses that had corporate offices in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, entered the plea on July 28, 2015, to charges he failed to remit sales tax collected from customers, failed to pay over income taxes withheld from employees, and failed to file sales and employer withholding tax returns as well as corporate tax reports.

"This was money collected or withheld in trust and owed to Pennsylvania," said Revenue Secretary Eileen McNulty. "Failing to remit taxes collected or withheld is a crime that hurts everyone in the state. The Department of Revenue wants to ensure that those who pay their taxes do not shoulder a greater burden because of those who do not."

On November 17, Dauphin County Common Pleas Judge Deborah Curcillo sentenced Biko to five years of probation with the condition he pays the full amount of restitution within two weeks.  Biko was also ordered to pay fines totaling $2,425 and the costs of prosecution.

These offenses arose from Biko's failure to file required returns and to turn over $48,565.87 in collected sales tax and $51,607.64 in withheld state income taxes between April 2009 and March 2011.

The Department of Revenue's Bureau of Criminal Tax Investigations developed the case against Biko and referred it to the Office of Attorney General. Senior Deputy Attorney General George R. Zaiser prosecuted the case on behalf of the state.

MEDIA CONTACT:  Gary Miller or Maia Warren, 717-787-6960

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Revenue

Related Links

http://www.state.pa.us