Boston-Area Restaurant Owner Convicted of Tax Fraud

BOSTON – A former owner of restaurants in Boston and Chelsea was convicted today by a federal jury in Boston of tax fraud.  

Burhan Ud Din, 50, of Watertown, was convicted following a week-long jury trial of six counts of willful failure to collect and pay over tax, which requires employers to withhold and pay to the IRS certain payroll taxes. Din was acquitted of charges of procuring citizenship contrary to law. U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. scheduled sentencing for Nov. 7, 2019.

Din defrauded the government and avoided paying payroll taxes owed by a Crown Fried Chicken located in Chelsea and a Kennedy Fried Chicken in Boston in 2010. Federal law requires employers to withhold payroll taxes and pay the IRS. To avoid paying taxes, repeatedly, Din falsely reported the number of employees and wages paid to the IRS. Din provided the tax preparer for both stores with false information about the restaurants’ payroll, causing the tax preparer to file false tax returns.

The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, a maximum of three years of supervised release a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and payment of the costs of prosecution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Andrew E. Lelling; Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; Jason Molina, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, and Boston Police Commissioner William Gross made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian A. Pérez‑Daple and Scott L. Garland of Lelling’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.