Buffalo Man Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion

A Buffalo, New York, man who owned and operated a debt collection business was sentenced to 37 months in prison today for tax evasion, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy Jr. for the Western District of New York.

According to documents and information provided to the court, from April 2010 through October 2013, Dorian Wills operated a debt collection business under a variety of different names.  The business engaged in illegal collection practices, including making threatening and harassing phone calls and collecting on debt that did not exist or debt to which the collection companies did not have title.  To conceal his involvement in the business, Wills directed two individuals to incorporate companies in their names in Georgia and Ohio and to open bank accounts in the names of those companies.  Wills then used these corporate entities to operate his debt collection business.

During 2011 through 2013, Wills earned significant income from his debt collection activities. However, Wills sought to hide his income and evade assessment of his income tax liabilities by using nominees to hide his ownership of his debt collection businesses and filing false tax returns. Wills also did not file tax returns at all for 2011 and 2013.  In total, Wills’ conduct caused a tax loss of over $1.2 million.

In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford ordered Wills to serve two years of supervised release and pay $1,466,330.05 in restitution to the IRS.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman thanked special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorneys Jason M. Scheff and Thomas F. Koelbl of the Tax Division, who prosecuted the case. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman also thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York and Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie P. Grisanti for their support during the investigation and prosecution of this case.

Additional information about the Tax Division’s enforcement efforts can be found on the division’s website.