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Bill G. Makros, 58, of Danbury in Fairfield County, pleaded guilty to tax evasion during the summer and was sentenced on Tuesday, Nov. 12, the US Attorney for Connecticut said. Along with his prison term, he must also pay the federal government $137,672 in restitution.
Makros, who owned Budget Tree and Stump Removal Service, LLC in Danbury, asked customers to write checks for the company's services to cash rather than him or the business to avoid creating a paper trail, the prosecutor said.
The scheme lasted from 2016 through 2020, authorities added. Makros' company earned $1,426,915 during that time, allowing him to avoid paying more than $140,000 in federal taxes.
He also obtained two COVID-19 relief loans worth $31,200 by submitting false IRS forms, even though he hadn't filed tax returns from 2016 through 2020, the prosecutor said.
Makros is out on bond but must report to prison on Jan. 7, 2025. He will serve two years of probation once he's released, authorities said.
This is not the first time he's been convicted of avoiding paying taxes.
In 2008, Makros was convicted in Connecticut state court of two counts of failing to pay over sales tax, the federal prosecutor added.
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