Owner of New Jersey Debit Card Business Admits Filing False Tax Returns

NEWARK, NJ—An Orange County, New York man who owned a New Jersey company admitted today to filing false income tax returns, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Richard Jackowitz, 60, of Warwick, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark federal court to two counts of an information charging him with filing false tax returns.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Jackowitz owned and operated Branded Marketing, a Haskell, New Jersey company that sold debit cards. For the 2007 and 2008 tax years, Jackowitz had unreported income from his company of approximately $105,512 and $359,677, respectively. Jackowitz’s false tax returns caused a loss to the IRS of more than $300,000.

The tax charge to which Jackowitz pleaded is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine. As part of his plea agreement, Jackowitz also agreed to pay $319,940 in restitution to the government. Sentencing is scheduled for March 25, 2014.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Shantelle P. Kitchen; and special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford, for the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny Kramer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.