March 20, 2023   

President of Steel Pole Manufacturer Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

2023 03 Phil Albert Pelco Structural Pelco Products Edmond oklahoma stell pole.jpg

Former executive pleaded guilty to evading over $1 million in income taxes.

 

According to court documents, from 2014 to 2019, Phillip Barry Albert of Tulsa, Oklahoma was President of Pelco Structural LLC and directed its outside payroll service company to pay him over $2.6 million. Albert instructed that the payments be classified as reimbursements rather than income, so that federal income taxes would not be withheld, and the payments would not be reported on his Forms W-2 as wages.

Pelco Structural, whose products are also sold under the Pelco Products banner, is an Edmond, Oklahoma company that manufactures steel poles and related products for various outdoor lighting, traffic and signage applications. The company goes to market in the U.S. through various agents in the utility/DOT, commercial & industrial space as well as direct sales in certain U.S. markets.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD




Albert filed individual income tax returns for 2014 through 2019 that did not report the payments, totaling $2,615,750, thus causing a tax loss to the IRS of $1,000,232.

Albert faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Clinton J. Johnson for the Northern District of Oklahoma made the announcement.

IRS-Criminal Investigation and the FBI are investigating the case. Trial Attorney Meredith Havekost of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Cella and Thomas Duncombe of the Northern District of Oklahoma are prosecuting the case.

 

 

 




OTHER NEWS