Danbury Restaurant Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and William P. Offord, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, announced that AGOSTINO INCORVAIA, 47, of Danbury, waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to one count of tax evasion.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2007 to 2012, INCORVAIA failed to report to the Internal Revenue Service approximately $2.65 million in gross receipts generated by “Augie’s Numero #1,” a restaurant he operates in Danbury.

During the investigation of this matter, INCORVAIA admitted to an undercover IRS agent that he understated the restaurant’s gross receipts on his income tax returns and provided false numbers to his accountant, that he had a large group of “off the books” employees, and that a portion of the unreported receipts supported his business interests and properties, including those in the Dominican Republic.  INCORVAIA’s admissions, which were recorded, were corroborated by the restaurant’s “point of sale” system that was seized pursuant to a search warrant.

In pleading guilty, INCORVAIA admitted that he evaded payment of income taxes when filing his joint income tax returns for the 2007 through 2011 tax years.

Judge Bolden scheduled sentencing for July 7, 2015, at which time INCORVAIA faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of up to $100,000.  As part of his guilty plea, INCORVAIA has agreed to pay $396,650 in back taxes, as well as interest and penalties.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen.