Enfield Restaurant Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that GEORGE CARABASE, 41, of Enfield, waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to two counts of tax evasion.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2010 and 2011 CARABASE failed to report to the Internal Revenue Service approximately $550,000 in gross receipts generated by Buona Vita Restaurant, a restaurant he operates in Enfield.

During the investigation of this matter, CARABASE 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.

In pleading guilty, CARABASE admitted that he evaded payment of a total of $183,282 in income taxes when filing his income tax returns for 2010 and 2011.

Judge Meyer scheduled sentencing for May 20, 2016, at which time CARABASE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of up to $100,000 for each count.  As part of his guilty plea, CARABASE has agreed to pay $208,132 in back taxes and interest, as well as applicable penalties.

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