Rhode Island Businessman, State Legislator Sentenced to Federal Prison for Tax Evasion

PROVIDENCE, RI—John J. McCauley Jr., 54, owner and co-operator of McCauley and L’Europa Public Adjusters LLC and PIA Restoration LLC in Providence Rhode Island, and longtime Rhode Island state legislator, was sentenced today to 27 months in federal prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States of more than $500,000 and filing false tax returns, announced U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha; William P. Offord, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston office of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Criminal Investigation; Richard Deslauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Field Office; Guy N. Thomas, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Office of ATF; and Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Mary M. Lisi also ordered McCauley to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term and to pay a fine of $10,000. McCauley’s business partner, William L’Europa, 47, of Cranston, similarly charged, is scheduled to be sentenced on January 30, 2013.

At the time of their guilty pleas in September 2012, McCauley and L’Europa admitted to the court that they underreported business receipts for tax years 2007-2010 by nearly $1.8 million dollars, resulting in the underpayment of federal taxes to the IRS of more than $500,000.

The cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys William J. Ferland and Sandra R. Hebert.

The matter was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation, FBI, ATF, Rhode Island State Police, and the Providence Fire Department Fire Prevention Division.