Coin Dealer Formerly from Hackensack Admits Filing a False Federal Income Tax Return
| U.S. Attorney’s Office January 28, 2014 |
NEWARK, NJ—A former Hackensack, New Jersey dealer in ancient coins today admitted filing a false federal income tax return for the 2006 tax year, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Gantcho Zagorski, 60, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court to one count of aiding and assisting in the filing of a false tax return.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Zagorski owned and operated a business that sold ancient coins to domestic and international customers, primarily on the online auction site eBay, from his residence in Hackensack, New Jersey. Zagorski; his wife; and, at times, his daughter operated the coin-selling business under the names “Diana Coins,” “Paganecoins,” and “Diana Coins LLC.”
Zagorski admitted he provided his tax preparer with false and fraudulent information by substantially understating the amount of gross receipts and sales earned by his business and then caused to be filed with the IRS a false federal income tax return for 2006. Zagorski admitted the 2006 tax return claimed gross receipts and sales of $310,901 when, in fact, the business had generated more than $600,000 in gross receipts and sales for that year.
The tax count to which Zagorski pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for May 12, 2014.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Shantelle P. Kitchen, Newark Field Office; Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, New York, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James T. Hayes, Jr.; and the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maureen Nakly and Leslie Schwartz of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark.