Monmouth County Man Charged with Tax Evasion, Endeavoring to Obstruct IRS Laws

TRENTON, N.J. – A Monmouth County, New Jersey, man was arrested today for tax evasion and endeavoring to obstruct the administration of IRS laws, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Matthew Tucci, 51, of West Long Branch, New Jersey, is charged in an indictment unsealed today with one count each of willfully attempting to evade the payment of his 2015 and 2016 taxes and corruptly endeavoring to obstruct the administration of IRS laws. He is scheduled to make his initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni in Trenton federal court.

According to the documents filed in this case:

In 2015 and 2016, Tucci received millions of dollars in income from refunds issued by the Customs and Tax Administration of the Kingdom of Denmark. Tucci subsequently reported on his federal tax returns for those years that he owed over $2 million in taxes based on his receiving that income. Despite admitting that he owed those taxes, Tucci failed to fully pay his taxes when they were due. Tucci purchased more than $7.6 million worth of real estate and attempted to conceal his assets from the IRS by engaging in a series of fraudulent transactions, many of which were designed to disguise the true ownership of real estate he purchased and controlled.

Tucci also made false statements to IRS revenue officers in connection with collection proceedings and failed to disclose material facts to the IRS concerning his financial resources and his ability and intent to pay his outstanding tax liabilities.

The count of tax evasion carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. The count of obstructing the administration of IRS laws carries a maximum potential penalty of three years in prison and a maximum fine of $100,000.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan in Newark; and special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy, with the investigation leading to today’s arrest. 

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric A. Boden, Attorney-in-Charge of the Trenton Branch Office and Senior Litigation Counsel Nanette Davis and Trial Attorney Catriona M. Coppler of the Tax Division.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.